Almar Giardino di Costanza Resort and Spa opens in Sicily

A new five-star resort and spa, Almar Giardino di Costanza, has opened in Sicily.

The resort, in Mazara del Vallo on the western coast of Sicily, pays homage to Sicily’s diverse culture and age-old traditions.

It offers 86 suites, restyled by Verona-based design consultancy Studio Apostoli, which also designed the new Almablu Wellness Spa.

The hotel’s interiors are a modern reinterpretation of ancient Sicilian dwellings, with cream, pearl and cashmere grey colourings and wooden furnishings. The bed in each suite has a unique headboard, crafted from hand-decorated wood.

A multicultural guest journey

In the 1,260sqm Almablu Wellness Spa, the design philosophy also evokes ancient Sicily. Crafted as a destination for a multi-sensorial journey, the spa combines a mosaic of cultures, traditions and treatments.

There are three themed areas, based around the most influential Sicilian dominations: Norman, Arab and Roman.

The guest journey begins in the Norman world, inspired by Constance of Hauteville. It features a medium-temperature bio-sauna, a Finnish sauna and an ice room with a waterfall and plunge pool, all supplied by CEMI Network.

The design incorporates typically Nordic themes such as geometric cuts, black wood and suffused lighting.

“The multi-cultural journey continues in our treatment rooms where, through the use of classical Chinese medicine techniques, we are able to restore balance and wellbeing,” said spa manager Velentina Mazzone.

A traditional thermal offering

The Arab-Roman inspired thermal zone has a large hammam with a tepidarium, caldarium and a laconicum, enhanced by sensory showers with colour therapy and rain effects.

At the concluding point of the guest journey, evoking the atmosphere of a traditional thermae, there is a tea room and relaxation room with relaxation beds by Varaschin and Ethimo.

A rectangular Arabian patio serves as an environment for decompression and marks a symbolic passage between cultures for guests.

Other facilities include a Turkish salt bath, indoor swimming pool, fitness zone and 1,160sqm beauty area with seven treatment cabins for therapies, inspired by Classical Chinese Medicine.

Treatments use products from the bespoke Almablu SPA Cosmetics range and treatment beds are supplied by Lemi.

“Almar Giardino di Costanza and Almablu Wellness Spa aspire to be a hymn to Sicily, to its cultural richness and a melting pot of different cultures and traditions,” said Alberto Apostoli, founder of Studio Apostoli.

“It represents the coexistence of the west with traditional oriental medicine, where wellness, as a legacy of the past, merges with the contemporary approach to wellbeing.”

Other key suppliers, who Apostoli credits with strongly characterising the concept design, include LIP Lighting, Glamora for wallpaper and Oikos for decorative painting. Marazzi & Coem for the stone effects and Kriskadecor for decorative metal mesh.

“I have several goals for Almablu Spa Giardino di Costanza,” said Mazzone. “The first, to focus on welcoming guests by carrying out an accurate needs analysis, so we can really guide every guest.

“Second, I have been working for two years on building and training the team on spa hospitality and the importance of total knowledge of our product. We have been increasing knowledge about the wellness world and helping them learn to love this area

“My slogan? It is important to be wellness to be able to recommend it.”

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