Inside Oliveto Estate, Italy’s under-the-radar wellness escape
A quieter side of Italy
Forget Venice in high summer or fighting for space along the Amalfi Coast. As overtourism reshapes some of Italy’s best known destinations, Le Marche remains refreshingly under the radar, quieter, more private and still largely untouched by the crowds. Even getting there feels a little more off the beaten track, with limited direct flights from London, and on mine almost everyone seemed to be local. Tucked between the Apennine Mountains and the Adriatic Sea, Oliveto Estate sits high among nine acres of olive groves and vineyards, with rolling countryside falling away towards the blue Adriatic. The estate feels wonderfully discreet and secluded, making it an ideal escape for guests looking for space, privacy and somewhere genuinely removed from the usual Italian tourist trail.
The estate has been in the same family for three generations, and that sense of home rather than hotel is part of its charm. There are two villas, which can be taken individually or together for groups of up to 22, surrounded by gardens and enough space that it rarely feels as though you need to leave. Although if you do, there is plenty nearby, from hilltop villages and hiking trails to wine tasting, truffle hunting, cycling and trips towards the coast.
I visited as part of an Our Retreat stay, one of the many different retreats hosted at the estate throughout the year, and we quickly settled into a particularly lovely rhythm. Pilates in the morning, long lunches, swims, walks through the hills and evenings spent around the table. We also had our own private chef from @rooted.bynature taking care of our meals, including a lemon dessert at brunch that I was still thinking about long after we left.
Inside the rooms
The bedrooms are understated and spacious, with a palette of soft neutrals, natural textures and large windows that keep drawing your attention back outside. I even made the effort to get up early one morning just to watch the sunrise from my balcony. I wasn’t the only one either, and by breakfast the other guests and I were comparing notes on who had caught the best view.
The spa & wellness
Wellness is where Oliveto really comes into its own. It feels built into the stay rather than added on afterwards.
Oliveto has a private spa with sauna, steam room and jacuzzi, while outside there are two impressive swimming pools. There is also a tennis court and more than 70 hiking and cycling routes nearby. The purpose-built wellness studio is particularly beautiful, light, quiet and surrounded by greenery. We spent around seven hours doing Pilates across four days with @udenpilates, although I may have slept through a couple of mornings.
For something slower, the estate can arrange yoga, meditation, sound healing, massages and facials with local practitioners. One afternoon we walked through the surrounding hills, eating wild asparagus as we went and stopping to look for birds through binoculars.
Afterthoughts
Oliveto Estate gives you a taste of the Italy many of us thought had been lost to the usual hotspots, with rolling countryside, long lunches, local traditions and a slower pace, but far more space and privacy. Add in the option of a private chef, in house spa, beautifully designed villas and a concierge who can arrange everything from truffle hunting to wine tasting. By the time you leave, it is hard not to wonder why everyone is still fighting for space in Tuscany and on the Amalfi Coast when Le Marche offers a quieter, more private kind of luxury.
by Curavista contributor @chelia.batkin
Book via: https://olivetoestate.com
