October 20th 2024.
The spa culture in the UK is not something that many travelers are familiar with. Being half German, I have never had the self-consciousness that many Brits experience when it comes to being naked in public. Whether it's in a gym changing room or on a girls' holiday, I have always been comfortable with baring it all. This mindset of "korper freiheit" or "body freedom" came in handy during my recent trip to South Tyrol, in Northern Italy. This region is the only area in Italy where German is spoken and Austrian culture is incorporated into daily life, including the popular pastime of visiting the spa.
As someone who loves anything related to pampering, I couldn't resist the opportunity to indulge my spoiled princess nature in what is arguably the best spa destination in the world. I was feeling a bit "brat" when I arrived in South Tyrol in June, ready to start my "Brat Summer" at ALPIANA, one of the Dolce Vita hotels in the region. The Dolce Vita collection consists of four family-run active and wellness resorts – ALPIANA, Preidlhof, Lindenhof, and Feldhof – located in the towns of Lana and Naturno. I was surprised to find that the locals spoke German, just like their Austrian neighbors.
The air in South Tyrol is fresh, the surroundings are green, and the design of the hotels is integrated with nature. The easiest way to get to ALPIANA is to fly directly into Verona, with a short car ride to the hotel, or fly into Bolzano via SkyAlps. My stay at ALPIANA, which started at around €189 per person per night, was filled with everyday indulgences such as sipping on local white wine, eating pasta for every meal, and taking a dip in the outdoor pool surrounded by picturesque hills and flower-dotted pastures. What's more, by booking with just one hotel in the Dolce Vita collection, I was able to enjoy day trips to all five properties and experience their extra spa time, Dine and Wine around concept, and other top-notch facilities. One of my favorites was the Preidlhof Luxury Dolce Vita Resort, which has won numerous awards and is easy to see why.
The newly built spa tower at Preidlhof offers a variety of saunas, pools, and jacuzzis, but there is one caveat – all the spas in the region have a no swimwear policy. Personally, this didn't bother me at all, and I was eager to try out what I believe to be the best spa I have ever visited. During my naked spa journey, I relaxed in a room built on the site with the "highest energy" in the area, sipped on water infused with gemstones, and tried out the wine sauna. There was no need to feel self-conscious here as I embraced the local custom of running naked through ice-cold waterfall jets – screaming optional.
Preidlhof offers a variety of treatments, from conventional to unusual. I opted for a "face modeling" treatment, similar to the iconic Face Gym workouts. The therapist used her palms, thumbs, and even her fingers in my mouth to massage my facial muscles, which made small talk quite awkward. The result was a "snatched" face, according to the rest of the group. The most popular treatment is a 60-minute facial for €150, or €190 for 90 minutes, which includes a buccal massage.
But the biggest draw of South Tyrol's spas is the cultural phenomenon of "aufguss". This tradition, which the locals are very proud of, involves specially trained "sauna masters" hosting sessions in the spa. They use a combination of ice, towels, and fans to make the air as hot as possible, often accompanied by aromatic oils, music, singing, or storytelling. These "event saunas" can reach temperatures up to 95C, making me feel like I was being roasted in an oven. While the hammam sauna tends to reach a humid 42C, there is no shortage of very private anatomical parts on display – but no one seems to mind. The health benefits of aufguss are numerous, from glowing skin to weight loss to a stronger immune system.
In addition to indulging in the spa culture, South Tyrol is also known for its fine wines. The easiest way to get there is by flying into Verona or Bolzano. I highly recommend visiting in October when the temperatures are ideal for outdoor activities, followed by a trip to the spa to sweat out any toxins. So next time you're feeling a bit "brat", consider a trip to South Tyrol for a truly unique spa experience.
The spa culture in the UK is something that many travelers are not familiar with. Being half German, I have never felt self-conscious about revealing my body in public like many Brits do. Whether it's in a gym changing room or on a girls' holiday, I am completely comfortable with being completely exposed. This sense of "korper freiheit" served me well on my recent trip to South Tyrol, in Northern Italy, the only region in the country that speaks German and incorporates Austrian culture into daily life - including their love for visiting spas.
As someone who loves anything related to pampering, I couldn't resist the opportunity to indulge in the world's best spa destination. I was feeling quite spoiled when I arrived in South Tyrol. My "Brat Summer" began at ALPIANA, which is part of the Dolce Vita hotel collection and located about 40km north of Bolzano, the largest city in the region. The Dolce Vita collection consists of four family-run active and wellness resorts - ALPIANA, Preidlhof, Lindenhof, and Feldhof - all located in the towns of Lana and Naturno. It was interesting to learn that South Tyroleans speak German, just like their Austrian neighbors, and it was a pleasant surprise for me.
The air in South Tyrol is fresh and the surroundings are so green. The design of ALPIANA is also integrated with nature, making it the perfect place to relax and rejuvenate. The easiest way to reach ALPIANA is by flying into Verona, with a Ryanair flight from Stansted costing as little as £50 one way in October. Alternatively, you can fly into Bolzano via SkyAlps, which is even quicker and costs around €219 return in October. With its eco-friendly design and prices starting at €189 per person, per night, ALPIANA is a dream for wellness enthusiasts.
Sipping on local white wine, indulging in pasta for every meal, and taking a dip in the outdoor pool surrounded by rolling hills and flower-filled pastures were just some of the everyday pleasures I experienced at ALPIANA. What's even better is that by booking just one hotel in the Dolce Vita collection, you can enjoy day trips to all five properties and take advantage of even more spa time, as well as their Dine and Wine around concept and other top-notch facilities. One property that you cannot miss is Preidlhof Luxury Dolce Vita Resort, which has won numerous awards and is easy to see why.
Preidlhof's recently built spa tower is the icing on the cake for this already impressive resort. With saunas, pools, and jacuzzis galore, there is no shortage of pampering opportunities. However, there is one thing to note - all the spas in the region have a strict no swimwear policy. Personally, I wasn't fazed by this at all and was eager to try out what I believe to be the best spa I have ever visited. During my naked journey, I enjoyed soaking up the healing vibes in a relaxation room built on a site said to have the highest energy in the area, sipping on water infused with gemstones, and trying out the wine sauna.
At Preidlhof, there is an extensive menu of treatments ranging from conventional to more unique options. I opted for a "face modelling" treatment, similar to the iconic Face Gym workouts. The therapist used her palms to stretch my skin, dug deep into my facial muscles with her thumbs, and even massaged the inside of my mouth with her fingers - which made small talk a bit awkward. This 30-minute "facelift" left me looking "snatched," as my fellow guests described it. The cost for a 60-minute facial is €150, or €190 for 90 minutes, which includes a buccal massage.
But the main attraction of South Tyrol's spas is the cultural phenomenon of "aufguss." While it may be a bit difficult to wrap your head around at first, aufguss is a tradition that the locals are very proud of. Specially trained "sauna masters," who can be male or female, lead sessions in the spa where they use a combination of ice, towels, and fans to make the air as hot as possible. This is often accompanied by aromatic oils being thrown onto the coals, music, singing, or storytelling. The temperatures can reach up to 95C, making it feel like being roasted in an oven. While a hammam sauna typically reaches a humid 42C, these "event saunas" take it to another level. And yes, there is nudity involved, but no one seems to bat an eyelid or feel embarrassed. The health benefits of aufguss are numerous, from glowing skin to weight loss to a stronger immune system.
Another great aspect of South Tyrol's spas is the opportunity for fine wining. With so many local white wines to choose from, as well as delicious pasta dishes, it's the perfect place to indulge in some culinary delights while taking in the beautiful surroundings. So if you're looking for a unique and relaxing vacation, consider visiting South Tyrol and experiencing the one-of-a-kind spa culture for yourself.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
