Top 10 new spas: Adler Spa Resort, Italy

Sicily’s latest spa destination, the 90-room Adler Spa Resort sits on a secluded plateau overlooking the island’s southern-most coastline. Built according to the principles of bio architecture, the dispersive single-storey buildings are designed to have minimal impact on the landscape.

Sustainably is at the resort’s core: many interior walls are clad in natural unbaked Sicilian clay, which promotes natural humidity control, and floors are finished with Opus Signinum, an ecological material made from minutely crushed bricks and lime mortar. A cutting-edge heat pump recovers and redistributes energy within the resort.

Opened on July 7 this year, the large spa complex features three specialist pools – a freshwater infinity pool, a saltwater hydromassage pool and a thalassotherapy area – as well as 15 treatment rooms with views of the gardens and the Mediterranean Sea.

The spa’s ethos centres around a sense of lightness and light-heartedness, providing a balanced environment in which each sense is indulged to help guests embody the brand’s ‘let your soul fly’ motto.

Designed by the Sanoner family and architect Hugo Demetz, the spa also features a 25m sports pool, a secluded garden yoga platform and three independent saunas – Turkish, bio and Finnish – plus relaxation, spa and fitness, and wellbeing zones.

“The spa is flooded with natural light, which creates a feeling of being close to nature,” says spa manager Giulia Ciccarello Spitaleri. “This is enhanced by cedarwood interiors with patterns that represent Sicily’s ancient Arabic culture.

“Water is the key element connecting the spa interior to the gardens; a small river flows through the spa and to reach the cabins guests must cross a bridge. We’ve also introduced typical Sicilian ingredients, such as local essential oils of lemon, mandarin and prickly pear, many of which are made by local artisans.”

SPA STATISTICS

Adler Spa Resort, Sicilywww.adler-resorts.comadlersparesorts

Size: 3,200sqm Spa suppliers and product partners: Adler Spa & Med product line, Adler Thalasso collection, Technogym, Oltremodo (fabrics and furnishings), Lichtfabrik-halotech, Rier (carpentry)