Aquapetra Resort & Spa

Historical beauty meets high-end aquatic wellness. Up in the hills of Campania, on the edge of the sulfur-spring town of Telese Terme, the remnants of a deserted village still stand. The limestone manor house, the one surrounded by olive groves: that’s the reception hall — and these rough-hewn 19th-century buildings now comprise the Aquapetra Resort & Spa, the result of a dramatic transformation brought about by its new owners, the architect Domenico Tartarone and his wife Patrizia, an interior designer.

The forty-two guest rooms are designed after the style of an eclectic urban boutique, and this no-two-rooms-alike mentality makes for some fine surprises and delightfully luxurious quirks, like the private pool accessed through a stone archway in the living room of the executive suite. Despite the variation, Patrizia’s unifying design principle seems to be a defiance of typical “rustic Italian” tourist trappings; Aquapetra’s rooms come alive with boldly colored walls, waterfall bathroom fixtures, and cheekily ornate upholstery.

The lovingly designed and wonderfully staffed 6,000 square foot spa facility is housed in the manor’s converted barn — think limestone masterpiece, not weathered wood. Here you’ll find the requisite jacuzzi and indoor pool, but the real draws are the chrome aromatherapy showers and Turkish baths. Opt for one of Aquapetra’s spa packages, and you might even get champagne on ice to supplement an exhaustive pampering.

The revitalization continues in the restaurant, where head chef Ciro Simeoli serves dishes inspired by regional fare. And as the restaurant was built from a converted wine cellar, it’s only natural that the food should be paired with the perfect local vintage.

How to get there: Aquapetra Resort & Spa is just over an hour’s drive inland from Naples.