Dolce Vitality :: Wellness Retreat in Positano, Italy

Against the magical backdrop of one of the world’s most spectacular coastlines, Dolce Vitality is a weeklong fitness and detox retreat in Positano, Italy that aims to transform body and mind with vigorous hikes, energizing yoga sessions, calm mediation, low-impact strength training and restorative spa treatments.

In a legendary hotel dedicated to the small group of retreat guests for the entire week, Dolce Vitality will cleanse you, sculpt you, and reboot you. Supported by leading wellness experts and encouraged by fellow participants, you’ll conquer mountains and refocus both mind and body. You’ll sweat out toxins and replace them with Mediterranean goodness. In just one week, Dolce Vitality will take you to a new level of health, fitness and accomplishment.

Tapping into the age-old culture and wisdom of this natural paradise, Dolce Vitality uses as its open-air gym Positano’s intricate network of ancient mule tracks, from celebrated routes like the Path of the Gods to relatively untrodden paths. Maintained by volunteers, among them our team of dedicated hill-walking guides, these stunning trails traverse lemon and olive groves, pass ancient chapels and shrines, climb winding stairways to tiny perched villages with sweeping sea views.

Yoga, meditation and breathwork with me provide a gentle start and finish to the day’s activities, while afternoons are devoted to stretching, low-impact strength training and restorative massages and spa treatments to soothe tired muscle groups and restore physical and mental equilibrium and energy reserves. Sustenance comes in the form of succulent, balanced vegan meals prepared by the hotel’s chef in close consultation with our resident nutritionist and health coach.

YOUR NUTRITIONIST

Physician Dr. Paolo Toniolo has more than thirty years’ experience as a clinical research scientist in preventive medicine and epidemiology at New York University School of Medicine. Now retired, he lives and practices in Milan as head of the Longevity Clinic at the Santagostino Medical Center, an innovative non-prescription programme in functional medicine aimed at preserving and enhancing health and wellbeing through balanced nutrition and physical activity.

YOUR MOUNTAIN GUIDE

Giovanni Cuccaro is a talent we discovered in our midst. We knew our hotel works supervisor was a keen trail runner. But when he began to lead our weekly hill-walking tours, we realised it’s not just about sport for this Positano ‘Iron Man’. He’s deeply versed in the culture and ecology of the Amalfi Coast mountains he traverses, and loves to share his passion.

YOUR HEALTH COACH

Qualified health coach Valentina Dolci is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York, where she lived for three years. From her current base in her hometown, Milan, she consults on healthy eating for companies and private clients, while specializing in guided detox counseling and menu design for yoga retreats. She also contributes articles on nutrition to Vanity Fair, Glamour, Vogue Beauty, the Huffington Post and other publications.

YOUR FITNESS COACH

Francesca Capoccia has been mad about sports since she was a kid. After studying physical education in Urbino and training as a kineisologist, she began to focus on weight work and pilates. She’s also one of very few Megaformer coaches in Italy – and loves to introduce Le Sirenuse’s guests to this total-body workout machine and method.

YOUR YOGA TEACHER

Yours truly! Having lived for two years in the north of Italy, this country is my home away from home. Teaching yoga for the past two decades, I’m thrilled to be facilitating your morning and evening practices.

YOUR SPA MANAGER

A fascination with the world of beauty and wellness led Tramonti mountain girl Silvana Belpizzo to formative work experiences in Rome, Florence and Milan. But her beloved Costiera called, and before long she was heading up Le Sirenuse’s spa team. Her Dolce Vitality agenda is to “reawaken the five senses that get dulled by the noise and stress of modern life”.

YOUR CHEF

Growing up on the fertile slopes of Mount Vesuvius gave our young Michelin-starred chef Gennaro Russo a deep connection with the land, one that has pursued throughout his career. It’s not such a leap from gourmet menus to their calorie-controlled equivalents: fresh, locally- sourced Mediterranean ingredients are at the root of both, and the chef puts as much care into a salad with grains and nuts as he does into an elaborate pasta dish.