Heavenly Healing

The elegant Four Seasons Hotel Milano (Italy) makes its home in a 15th-century convent that has been reincarnated as a chic 118-room escape for those who flock to this thriving Italian city. The most recent addition to the hotel is The Spa of Four Seasons Hotel Milano, which opened its doors this month and provides modern-day guests with a truly heavenly experience.

Acclaimed architect and interior designer Patricia Urquiola was tasked with creating a seven-treatment-room retreat that paid homage to the hotel’s history while bringing a contemporary flair to the spa. As such, she created a space that preserved the original vaulted ceilings while incorporating state-of-the-art treatment rooms, a pool, and a Turkish bath with a sauna and a Jacuzzi, all made with materials sourced exclusively in Italy. “We have tried to achieve, through a harmonious atmosphere of space, materials, and colors, a realization of beauty that every guest will associate with both an emotional and absolute organic idea of comfort,” says Urquiola.

The spa interior is divided into four distinct zones: reception, treatment rooms, a wet zone, and a Fitness Centre. The warmly lit reception area features a 49-foot wainscotted wall that is intended to welcome guests with its soothing light. The wet area is highlighted with glass accents and includes a steam bath and hot-and-cold-showers. A 15-meter pool with incandescent underwater lighting is set beneath a vaulted ceiling. The treatment rooms feature wood walls, tatami floors, and fabric-draped ceilings to help create cocoon-like, soundless environments, and the most comprehensive treatment area, the Spa Suite, includes a steam bath, a multi-functional shower, a Jacuzzi, a private dressing room, and a fireplace. Finally, the 1,721-square-foot Fitness Centre, where guests can sign up for personal training and yoga, features Technogym equipment for cardio and strength training, along with a Kinesis workout station. In addition, the spa features the signature hair salon of Rossano Ferretti, an acclaimed stylist who owns 20 salons throughout the world. There, he and his team practice his much-praised method of styling that revolves around the natural fall of the hair. No matter where they find themselves within the spa, “all of our clients’ senses are inspired,” says spa director Natalia Boiarciuc. “We help them find a balance between the body and the soul.”

Treatment-wise, guests can select from a variety of luxe services for the face and body. Facials from La Prairie and Sodashi address a number of skincare needs. Those with a penchant for the finer things in life may flock to the La Prairie Caviar Firming Facial ($226, 80 minutes) or the Pure Gold Radiant Facial ($226, 80 minutes), while those looking for a more natural approach may enjoy Sodashi’s Samadara Ultimate Age-Defying Facial ($292, 95 minutes) or the Sodashi Marine Mineral Facial ($266, 50 minutes), which relies on marine algae and plant extracts. Caviar aficionados can enjoy the benefits of the facial from head-to-toe with La Prairie’s Caviar Body Treatment ($246, 80 minutes), or they can take advantage of myriad Sodashi Body Experiences, including a Detox Body Wrap ($219, 80 minutes), a Salt Body Massage ($200, 50 minutes), and more. A variety of massages are also specially designed to balance, energize, and relax. Nailcare and waxing services round out the menu. “At the moment, we can say that all treatments are almost equally requested,” says Boiarciuc. “They all offer emotional mind-and-body experiences, where our objective is to make our guests feel the wellness and find their own equilibrium.” After all, who would expect less than a state of total peace and serenity at a spectacular spa found in a former convent. 

Owner: Gruppo Statuto

Spa Director: Natalia Boiarciuc

Opened: September 2013

MOST REPRESENTED REGIONS

Middle East, Russia, U.S.

SPACE

8,611 square feet,  7 treatment rooms

COST OF SPA

$6 million

OFFERINGS

body treatments, facials, fitness, makeup application, massage, nailcare, salon services, waxing, yoga

MOST EXPENSIVE OFFERING

Samadara Ultimate Age-Defying Facial ($292, 95 minutes), an anti-aging ritual based on Ayurvedic philosophies that is intended to restore vital energy to the skin

PRODUCT LINES

Essie, Joico, La Prairie, Sodashi

EQUIPMENT

Capitol, Clap Tzu, Gharieni, Nilo, Pedersoli, Rognoni, Spa Soft, SpaEquip, Technogym

ARCHITECT &  INTERIOR DESIGNER

Patricia Urquiola (Milan)