Italy region: Capri

Capri Palace Hotel & Spa (Anacapri, Isola di Capri) - www.capripalace.com

Melissa's review: Capri Palace, Anacapri

Situated in Anacapri, Capri Palace, a Leading Small Hotel and Spa is stunning with views of the Mediterranean and Ischia Islands in the distance. I arrived at the hotel at night and wanted to stay up all night to walk around in awe.

The Mondrian Art Suite, where I stayed was artistically inspiring. With a contemporary style, art throughout the suite and the bathroom alone seemed like a mini spa with a jacuzzi tub, a rainwater shower and view. The Suite had two rooms and a balcony overlooking the gardens and pool. Caroline Courteau, the Director of Sales and Marketing of the Capri Palace, had a serious sweetness and sophistication, offered prosecco and a tour of the entire hotel.

Spa

And of course the Spa -- The Capri Beauty Farm as it is called, il Benessere nel Corpo e nello Spirito (The Wellbeing of the Body and of the Spirit.) Just reading and saying these Italian words made me take a deep breath and relax. The experience and treatment turned out to be a highlight of my trip for a few reasons. I had arranged with Valeria Durante, the spa manager, to experience the Scuola delle gambe (Leg School), a treatment created by Dr. Francesco Canonaco. This treatment was ideal for me because it was created for women with circulation problems in their legs, thus suffering from uncomfortable, unsightly swollen ankles, only worsened by sitting in a plane for 12 hours. This couldn't have been a better way to start my week as I would be wearing skirts, shorts, high-heels and walking on cobblestone streets everyday.

The treatment started with cold mud with a combination of healing herbs (decongestant properties), packed on my legs; as I lay there for 15 minutes, I stayed warm by sipping a hot herbal tea, specific to the treatment to detoxify. The mud was then washed away and my legs there then wrapped in a very cold gauze medicated with savoactive substances to treat the venous walls, assisting my natural system to get rid of adipose deposits ... (Brrrr) ... I ask for another cup of hot tea. After another 15 minutes, the gauze is removed and my legs are massaged. I'm already feeling "lighter" in my legs; then I was escorted to a hot (100 degrees) & cold (64) pool medicated with marine extracts, where I walked through the water, up to my waist and walked in a circle from hot water, then to cold with rounded rocks at the bottom for pressure point and increased circulation stimulation. They had to practically push me in the cold water .... brrrrr....but then back in the hot again (ahhhh) .... cold (brrrr) ... and this went on for 10 minutes. The entire treatment was about an hour and my legs and feet felt ... incredible and normal. Being a bit skeptical, I thought that the results would last a day or two, but in fact, I am convinced this treatment helped me not only the whole week in Capri, but since then I have not suffered from swollen ankles! Perhaps just as wonderful as the results of the treatment, was getting to meet Dr. Canonaco. An older, handsome and humble doctor, he was so kind ... with a flirty sense of humor, who would not give up his secret herb recipe. Capri being a small island, for the remainder of the week, I often saw Dr. Canonaco walking around the Piazetta with a sweater tied around his shoulders, greeting just about every person. I think he knows everyone on the island. "Ciao ... buongiorno ... buonasera" he would say with a smile everytime I saw him. And that was Capri Palace and Spa ... thank you to the entire staff -- Caroline, Valeria, Natasha and Dr. Canonaco for your enthusiasm, sincerity and hospitality! Look for the review of Capri Palace in the January 2009 Your Wedding Day Magazine.

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J.K. Place Capri (Isola di Capri) - wwww.jkcapri.com

Melissa's review: --