All products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
Welcome to the second iteration of Vogue’s global spa guide, an index of the 100 best spas in the world, built from the expertise of our global editors and trusted contributors. There is a lot to choose from in the world of wellness, and no matter how far you’re planning to travel—from a subway ride to a trans-Atlantic flight—we want to make sure it’s worth the journey. Whatever your path, let us be your guide.
Why go here?
To the global traveler, Lake Garda may exist as the lesser-known sister of its neighbor, Lake Como—but with its equally breathtaking scenery, endlessly charming towns and gardens, and generally more relaxed feel, it’s ready to become more than just a destination predominantly loved by Europeans. Enter Cape of Senses, which debuted last summer as the area’s newest—and one of its most spectacular—year-round spa hideaways.
Across the property’s 21,000-square-foot Senses Spa, you’ll find all the classic spa facilities (three saunas and steam rooms, a state-of-the-art fitness center, three pools, and a jacuzzi) but with a notable emphasis on bringing the outside in, and the inside out. From the moment you step inside the spa complex, and take your first deep breath of the lavender and thyme-infused air, a sense of calmness descends; in place of the elaborate bells and whistles of many brand-new spa offerings, here, it’s all about elegant simplicity. You can tuck yourself into a cozy corner of one of the various relaxation areas, or the lounge-like spa library—all designed in sleek, soothing neutrals—or delve into the selection of fresh herbal teas and jars of nuts and dried fruit, but it’s always the views that take center stage, thanks to the sweeping walls of glass that line one side of every room. (Even from inside the wet rooms, the views are the thing.)
Finally, once you’ve soaked and scrubbed and sauna-d yourself out—more on the Senses Spa’s extensive treatment list later—you can make the most of the spa’s thoughtful approach to indoor-outdoor design by wandering through the olive groves and stationing yourself on one of the cabana-like outdoor lounge areas. It may be just 40 minutes from the city center of Verona, but it’s a blissful, bucolic paradise that somehow feels entirely cut off from the outside world.
What’s the vibe?
Set among the rolling hills above the picture postcard town of Torri del Benaco (make sure to borrow one of the hotel’s bicycles or its electric Fiat 500 to pay a visit to the harbor with its charming restaurants and shops), Cape of Senses is, once again, all about the view—and what a view it is. On the bright spring morning I arrived, the jagged topography of the mountains on the other side of the lake stretched as far as the eye can see, with wisps of cloud swirling above them and Garda’s glittering waters below. At night, the lights on the opposite shore begin to gently twinkle as the property’s gardens are tastefully lit up for a touch of drama. Overall, there’s a feeling of elegant simplicity here, with the minimalist design of the rooms and restaurants gently fading into the background.
There’s also a vast range of activities on offer for those planning a longer stay, many of which turn the spotlight to local makers working in a similar mode to the team at Cape of Senses, such as tours of local oil mills and wineries.
Top marks for the food too, which can be found across two restaurants: the leisurely poolside Osteria La Pergola, which serves light Italian classics for tucking into while taking a brief sojourn from your sunlounger, and Restaurant Al Tramonto, which sits on the property’s top floor and offers innovative spins on Mediterranean cuisine that highlights the wonders of the kitchen’s firmly local, seasonal produce. Dishes span everything from the decadent—a delectably rich poached egg lavished with cheese sauce and truffle, or a slow-cooked duck leg in a red wine syrup and blackberry jus—to light and bright plates of artfully arranged endive salads and restorative ribollita. If you’re feeling particularly decadent after a long day of restoring the mind, body, and soul? The in-house mixologists will concoct a delicious herb-infused spritz.
The history?
The family behind Cape of Senses—brothers Christian and Johannes Margesin, and their father Johann—have been running the similarly wellness-focused resort Alpiana in the hills of South Tyrol for half a century. While they’d always dreamed of opening a property on the lakes, it wasn’t until discovering the site of Cape of Senses back in 2018 (at the time, it was a neglected olive grove) that they realized they’d found their perfect spot, and spent the next five years bringing their vision meticulously to life. The delightful general manager Alina Deutsch serves as the perfect on-the-ground representative for the family’s passion and energy.
What should you try?
The real question: What shouldn’t you try? The signature treatment here is the Senses Pinda: a two-hour full-body extravaganza that includes a hot pads and wild herb ritual, before diving into a massage that uses a mixture of citrus, rosemary, and basil essential oils, followed by a nourishing facial using flower extracts and Macadamia oil. Really, though, every treatment—and the spa menu runs the full gamut from east to west—is executed to the highest degree, with the help of herb-infused products by MEI. (MEI stands for “migliori erbe Italiani,” and quite literally translates as “best Italian herbs.”)
Anything else you should know?
Make the most of the daily lineup of free wellness activities, which include fitness classes, guided meditations, and breathwork sessions. The one you really shouldn’t miss? Yoga classes in the morning (or occasionally at nightfall) at the hotel’s outdoor spa platform, situated under a fragrant cluster of olive and lemon trees and with unparalleled views over the lake.
Who can go?
Hotel guests can book specific spa packages or make bookings upon arrival, and external guests can access the Senses Spa for treatments upon booking also. Also worth noting: To maintain the hotel’s allover air of tranquility, the hotel and spa don’t allow children under 14.
Booking details for Cape of Senses
Address: Località le Sorte, 37010 Torri del Benaco VR, Italy
Read more from Vogue’s Global Spa Guide.
