One of the outdoor pools at Terme di Relilax Boutique Hotel & Spa in Montegrotto Terme, northern Italy.

Terme di Relilax Boutique Hotel & Spa in Montegrotto Terme, northern Italy, has served as a wellness sanctuary since 1892. The 5-star boutique hotel and spa has been family-run for four generations and prides itself on its tradition of Italian hospitality. The resort is famous for its therapeutic thermal water and mud treatments unique to the land that dates back to ancient Roman times. The waters have been enjoyed for decades for their anti-aging benefits, and are used to help alleviate inflammatory rheumatism, sports injuries, and pain.

The 27,000 square-foot spa includes two thermal pools, two mineral pools with magnesium and potassium, multiple saunas, and many more relaxation amenities. Guests at the hotel also enjoy an 800-square-meter outdoor mineral pool lined with quartz and sand floors, as well as an indoor 400-square-meter pool.

Consuelo Braggion is a fourth-generation member of a historic family of Italian hoteliers at the helm of the Terme di Relilax Hotel (along with her brother Gianluigi and their parents, Elettra and Agostino). We caught up with Braggion to learn more about the spa’s natural wellness offerings and treatment options:

Why You’ll Love It: The warm and welcoming atmosphere, tradition of Italian hospitality, and ability to create personalized touches come together to ensure a one-of-a-kind experience our guests truly enjoy, which has also allowed us to entertain locals and travelers for over 120 years. Hospitality has been in my family’s lineage for four generations, and my goal is to continue the tradition of wellness to make our guests’ dreams of relaxation and well-being come true.

Terme di Relilax Boutique Hotel & Spa in Montegrotto Terme, northern Italy.

Wellness Offerings: At Relilax, we offer 50 total treatments, including 15 different mud treatments. We house two thermal pools and two mineral pools with magnesium and potassium, creating a sanctuary to embrace these natural elements. Guests have access to the Beauty Farm, which offers a handful of massages for various healing needs, either traditional (like deep tissue) or more holistic, such as the Alcarelilax Massage—a dry brushing massage that stimulates circulation and a sacred ritual that is known to calm the nervous system.

Facial beauty treatments made with the mud, including masks specifically made to treat headaches and sinuses, masks with mini lifting properties, and collagen facials are also available. Our guests also have access to fresh produce and honey harvested from our personal organic farm, "Il Casale al Colle," which is used in our detoxes, cleanses, and at our restaurants.

Key Features: The newly designed spa, The Terme di Relilax, spans 27,000-square-feet and includes two thermal pools (free of harmful chlorine), two mineral pools with magnesium and potassium, 22 treatment rooms, multiple saunas, a Turkish bath, relaxation areas, and a bistrot. The waters in the thermal pools are derived from the uncontaminated basins of the Lessini Mountains at the foothills of the Alps in the Euganean Hills, which have developed healing properties through natural minerals.

The pool offerings at Relilax include La Palme, an 800-square-meter outdoor mineral pool lined with quartz and sand floors; Ardesia Pool, an indoor 400-square-meter pool of millenary thermal water, enriched by the precious combination of sodium chloride, bromide, and iodide; and Le Bolle, a smaller hydromassage pool with the same magnesium and potassium elements of the La Palme pool. The Le Bolle pool also includes underwater chromotherapy lights to help lubricate joints and relax muscles.

Bonus: Upon arrival, guests receive a spa tote bag and a welcome basket with fresh fruits and fresh baked cookies from the bakery. The Relilax bag includes flip-flops, bathrobes, and an eco-friendly clutch (made by recyclable tissue and paper) to hold guests’ phones and personal items during their treatments. We also offer guests a welcome drink (choice of wines or fresh juices) at the bar and a free consultation with guest relations to assess their goals, introduce guests to treatments, and tailor their itinerary during their stay.

Indoor swimming pool at Terme di Relilax Boutique Hotel & Spa in Montegrotto Terme, northern Italy.

Cuisine: Relilax has two on-site, seasonal health-focused dining establishments, as well as a bar located in the lobby of the hotel. The Ginco Restaurant offers guests fine dining experiences for both lunch and dinner. The four-course prix fixe menu, which offers a different house-made pasta daily, uses local and premium ingredients from Relilax’s personal organic farm.

Guests are also presented with the option for an AlcaRelilax Diet, customizable to fit all nutrition preferences and restrictions, that focuses on regional and Italian dishes with lighter ingredients fresh from the hills. We interpret these recipes in a lighter way, so guests won’t have to worry about ingesting any unnecessary fats.

Terme di Relilax Bistrot offers lighter a-la-carte lunch and dinner in a casual setting where locally sourced seasonal ingredients are the spotlight. It’s so casual you can wear your bathrobe there! The Bistrot boasts both an indoor and outdoor lounge area where guests can sip on regional wines while enjoying a panoramic view of the outdoor pool and rolling hills of Montegrotto Terme.

For guests in need of something quick, the Ginco Bar offers fresh fruit and vegetable juices, herbal teas by day, and an extensive list of local and international wines and spirits in the afternoon. The bar is open daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to midnight. An Aperitivo cocktail gathering is hosted every Tuesday and Saturday evening for guests of the hotel, serving fresh juices, wines, and a feast of specialties to the area like arancini, cheese, and prosciutto di Montagnana.

Relilax has two on-site, seasonal health-focused dining establishments.

Unique Treatment: The Latin name of the city Montegrotto, “Mons Aegrotorum” translates literally to “mountain of sick people,” further proving that the Romans knew the healing effects of the region’s thermal water over 2,000 years ago. Within the Euganean Hills thermal area, the mud that is developed embodies unique properties that are rich in minerals and algae, as well as a natural cortisone that serves as a stress reliever.

The Fango Vivo Mud is a unique treatment that dates back to the ancient Roman times and has been proven by decades of scientific research to not only provide anti-aging benefits, but also to aid in the cure of osteoarticular syndromes, inflammatory rheumatism, sports injuries, and pain treatment. Our Fango Vivo Intensive treatment allows the mud to work its magic all over the body to re-oxygenate the tissues and combat excess fluids and fats that build up, ultimately leaving the skin feeling refreshed and the body more toned than before.

Luxurious Splurge Experience: For a truly luxurious Relilax experience, we offer guests the Relilax Intensive Program that takes place over the course of seven days. During this program, guests will experience various massages, 3 personal training sessions, 10 Fango Vivo treatments, 6 “D Factor” organic meso-therapeutic medical injection treatments, an AlcaRelilax diet regime, and access to all thermal and magnesium water pools.

In addition to all of this, a therapist will examine the guests beforehand and personalize the experience based on their needs. The dedication to precision and tradition, while also being able to personalize every step, makes this the perfect self-care splurge. The package starts at €2885 ($3,113) per person in a Maison Relilax room.

Featured Products: At Terme di Relilax, we use thermal mud that has been harvested locally, as well as a house-branded cosmetological line of creams, oils, and toners for all of our treatments. Guests also have access to our Relilax Evolution line, which now offers three new products: an exfoliating body cream, a velvety oil, and an aromatic body and face spray. The exfoliating cream is made of 96% all-natural materials and cleanses and renews to keep skin moisturized and elastic. This is best followed up with the velvety oil, scented with sea salt and using grapeseed oil and silicones to keep the formula light and smooth.

Our body and face sprays are a refreshing, hydrating boost for any time of day. By making our own line, we are able to ensure that what we offer is on brand with our philosophy and made with natural ingredients, biodegradable, and paraben-free. All our products are available for purchase online.

For more information visit Terme di Relilax Boutique Hotel & Spa. Follow @relilax on Instagram and on Facebook at @relilaxhotel.

[Images courtesy of Terme di Relilax Boutique Hotel & Spa]