Villa Eden The Private Retreat

The South Tyrol spa town of Merano has been a luxury travel destination for longer than the phrase “luxury travel destination” has existed; even against this backdrop, the aptly named Villa Eden stands out for its extraordinarily restorative atmosphere. Its setting, in an ornate Art Nouveau villa, feels like something out of a fairy tale, and its spa is no mere massage operation, but an intensively health-focused medical establishment specializing not just in relaxation but in longevity as well. Its modest size — a mere 25 suites — contributes to this mission of restoration, and its adults-only policy helps as well. Even the so-called Petite suites spread out over 35 square meters, and the largest ones range from 70 to 100. And at all sizes they’re extraordinarily comfortable, with particularly lavish bathrooms. The spa offers everything from beauty treatments to fitness and recreation to medical analyses and therapies. And the cuisine, as flavorful as it is, is designed to support Villa Eden’s health-conscious approach. The Eden’s Park restaurant serves artfully prepared dishes crafted from traditional Tyrolean ingredients, with an unusual variety of vegetarian, vegan, or detox options. All this surrounded by one of the most spectacular valleys in the region — you can see why they call it Eden.