I Checked Into Italy's Most Exclusive Longevity Retreat – And Got A Wake-Up Call

To be really honest, I went into summer feeling burnt out and overwhelmed – the past few months had taken their toll. My freelance writing career was becoming increasingly stressful, unpaid invoices meant I was struggling financially, my long-distance relationship had become strained, and I’d recently experienced one of the most distressing moments of my life when I’d been the one to find my flatmate following a failed suicide attempt. 

What I needed was both a physical and mental reset, so when the opportunity arose to spend three nights at Villa Eden’s exclusive longevity retreat in Italy’s South Tyrol, it couldn’t have come at a better time.  

I didn’t go to Villa Eden looking for a miracle. I wasn’t trying to reverse my biological clock or experiment with the latest Silicon Valley wellness trend. I simply wanted to feel happier, healthier and calmer. And I knew this would be the place that would give me the convalescence I was so desperately seeking. 

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The Lowdown

Founded in 1982 by Karl Schmid, Villa Eden has been championing preventative medicine for more than four decades, long before longevity became the wellness industry’s favourite buzzword. Perched on a peaceful hillside above the Alpine town of Merano, this adult-only retreat has just 25 suites, creating an atmosphere that feels wonderfully private. 

It’s served by nearby Bolzano Airport, with SkyAlps offering direct flights from London Gatwick, making it surprisingly straightforward to reach. It’s easy to see why everyone from stressed-out executives to high-profile celebrities chooses to disappear here for a break.

Unlike many luxury wellness escapes, there’s very little guesswork involved. Every one of Villa Eden’s longevity programmes begins with in-depth diagnostics, including blood tests, epigenetic analysis, an ECG and advanced skin imaging, allowing the medical team to build a detailed picture of your current health before creating a treatment plan tailored entirely to you and your individual goals. 

The treatment menu is extensive, impressive and truly cutting-edge. Guests can experience everything from ways to improve how efficiently their body uses oxygen (CellGym intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia training, or IHHT) to ZeroBody Cryo sessions designed to soothe inflammation and speed up recovery. There are also opportunities for personalised IV infusions to address any flagged deficiencies, alongside detoxifying phyto-algae therapies to supercharge your traditional pampering spa rituals and even NanoVi cellular activation to help reduce the strain of oxidative stress on your body. 

Best of all, despite the high-spec technology, Villa Eden doesn’t feel clinical, and there’s no pressure to try everything on the menu. Instead, your treatment plan is carefully curated around your results, making the whole experience feel reassuring, not intimidating.

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The Retreat

Given everything that had happened in the months leading up to my stay, I opted for Villa Eden’s anti-stress programme because that’s what I thought I needed most. It promised to rebalance both body and mind through a combination of personalised therapies and gentle movement, tackling the kind of chronic stress that had led me to have poor sleep, brain fog and a body stuck in fight-or-flight mode. 

Before a single treatment began, I underwent the signature medical evaluation. Alongside my blood tests, ECG, and skin analysis, my body composition was measured, breaking down everything from muscle mass and body fat to hydration levels. 

Sitting down with Villa Eden’s in-house doctor, Dr Emanuele De Nobili, I expected the conversation to revolve around my weight and previous iron deficiencies. Instead, it centred on the fact that my body showed increased inflammation, an unusually high level of water retention, and the fact that I was pre-sarcopenic – aka I had a far from ideal muscle mass for my 34 years. 

It was a genuine wake-up call. Having lost 17 kilograms over the previous two years, I’d always assumed the lower the number on the scales, the healthier I was becoming. But Dr De Nobili explained that body composition tells a far more important story than weight alone. Muscle mass is one of the strongest predictors of healthy ageing, especially for women. Suddenly, I wasn’t thinking about the kilos I’d lost, but whether I’d lost weight in the right way.

Armed with my results, every treatment over the next few days felt purposeful. It began with a ‘Touch for Health’ session, where the retreat’s resident healer, Stefan, used kinesiology – a kind of practice that explores how the body’s muscles and movement relate to wellbeing – to identify areas of imbalance. As someone whose mind is more attuned to science and facts, I tend to be sceptical of holistic therapies, but whether it was the treatment itself or simply having an hour dedicated to slowing down, I felt noticeably lighter, stronger and calmer.

That afternoon, I went on to be cocooned in a ‘Body Cast’ treatment. Designed to target areas of fluid retention, a muscle-releasing massage is performed before a warm mineral-rich seaweed paste is applied to your skin. This raises your body’s internal temperature before the paste hardens and you’re cut out. I emerged feeling sculpted, slender, and relaxed.

What followed next was a Cellgym session. With an oxygen mask placed over my nose and mouth, oxygen-poor air and oxygen-rich air are alternated, mimicking altitude training. I can’t say I felt a difference, but it’s designed to give the mitochondria inside your cells a little workout. 

I then had the chance to experience ZeroBody Cryotherapy, Villa Eden’s futuristic take on a cold plunge to reduce inflammation and aid muscle repair. Wrapped in material I can only liken to a swimming pool cover, freezing cold water is pumped through the system, enveloping you in sub-zero temperatures without getting wet. Invigorating, yes, but not my cup of tea, and I lasted a measly two minutes.  

I also tried hydro-phyto-algae therapy, one of the retreat’s signature treatments. Immersed in a hydrotherapy Jacuzzi, massage jets targeted my problem areas (thighs and belly). Out of the tub, I was painted with green seaweed slime and wrapped up in plastic on a heated waterbed. Minutes later I was sweating, the toxins (and the glass of red I’d had the night before) pouring out of every pore. It might sound peculiar, but it was warm and comforting after my cryo ordeal.

A quick hydration break and I was whisked away for an indulgent facial treatment focusing on hydration and lymphatic drainage. Using Villa Eden’s own beauty product line, my complexion was skilfully cleansed and rejuvenated and left my skin nourished and glowing. 

One of my standout treatments though was also the most simple – the anti-stress massage. It was 90 minutes of unadulterated, tension-melting bliss with my therapist Esteffana. Although not technologically advanced, my fried nervous system enjoyed every second. 

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The Rooms 

With 25 suites, Villa Eden feels more like a private residence than a hotel, and for three nights, I called the Fendi Suite home. Named after the late Carla Fendi (yes, that Fendi), the sweeping semi-circular balcony is this room’s selling point. With 180-degree views of the lush green gardens, geometric rows of hillside vineyards and snow-capped mountains, this was my favourite place to come and unwind after a hard day’s pampering. 

Inside, you’ll find luxurious monochrome interiors, plush cushions and an enormous bed that I happily sank into every evening, as well as a stylish marble bathroom with plenty of gorgeous Villa Eden toiletries. 

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The Food and Drink

Mentally preparing myself for the typical wellness retreat fare: salads, soups and lemon water, Villa Eden’s approach to gastronomy is refreshingly relaxed. After all, its take on food is wonderfully Italian: health is important, but so is having a good time and enjoying your meals. 

Under the direction of Michelin-starred chef Marcello Corrado, dishes here are nutrient-dense, packed with flavour and cater to all tastes. Should you want to monitor your intake during your stay, the fasting menu offers three calorie-controlled options of 800, 1000, or 1200 calories per day. Should you not, there’s an abundance of authentic Italian dishes and decadent wines to enjoy on the sweeping veranda. 

At breakfast, you can expect an abundance of flaky pastries, fruits and yoghurts laid out buffet-style, with hot dishes such as eggs Royale or berry-laden waffles available to order. Lunch includes a varied salad bar, steamed seasonal vegetables and à la carte main courses. And dinner? A more elegant affair, with gourmet fine dining to be enjoyed on thick white tablecloths. 

My recommendation? The double plin ravioli filled with asparagus, egg cream, beurre blanc and tarragon, accompanied by a cold glass of nearby winery Castel Rametz’s crisp, aromatic sauvignon. Rich and flavourful, every mouth-watering forkful is something I still think about months later. 

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The Final Word

I arrived at Villa Eden needing a break. But I left realising what I actually needed was a new perspective on my health. Learning that while my weight might be classed as ‘healthy’, the stress of the previous few months and my sedentary lifestyle were having an impact and I needed to change.

Never did I think that at 34 I’d be classed as pre-sarcopenic, but this diagnosis was a big wake-up call. Since my visit, I’ve started lifting weights before my muscles shrivel away to nothing, and I already feel stronger. 

I’ve also invested in an Oura ring to keep tabs on my sleep and stress levels. Though it might seem extravagant, seeing my own metrics in real time has been eye-opening and helped me to stay on track with daily walks, getting enough sleep and breathing deeply whenever I feel a cortisol spike. 

Although Villa Eden is by all means a medical spa and reveals areas of your life that might need to change, never once was I made to feel bad about myself for not being in peak physical condition. The staff genuinely care about their guests; there’s a feeling of comfort and relaxation as soon as you walk in the door and are greeted by a warm smile from Tauria at reception.

What I loved most was how the retreat addresses the internal battle so many of us have of doing what’s good for you and what you actually enjoy. The data and decadence don’t undermine each other, they work together, and you leave feeling like you’ve invested in both your health and your happiness – and that’s exactly my kind of longevity.