A visit to Angelika Schmid
Angelika Schmid took over Villa Eden in 1993 from her father, who had opened the hotel in 1982 as Italy's first ‘beauty farm’. Over the years, she has turned the elegant Belle Époque-style villa into one of the top addresses for longevity - worldwide. We met Angelika Schmid on the villa's terrace, overlooking the extensive park with its majestic, centuries-old Lebanon cedars and idyllic water lily pond.
Dear Mrs Schmid, your father was a visionary hotelier who opened the first ‘Beauty Farm in Italy’ with Villa Eden. In 1993, you took over the elegant hotel and realised your vision of one of the most exclusive retreat hotels in the world. Can you tell us a little about this journey and the philosophy of the hotel?
My father had a revolutionary idea in 1982: he wanted to completely redefine the classic spa hotel concept. He took this private villa and turned it into Italy's first Remise en Forme. The central theme at the time was weight loss.
But a lot has changed over the years. The once strict, regimented spa concept has become a state-of-the-art Longevity Retreat. The number of rooms has been reduced from 45 to 25 exclusive suites, while the medical expertise has been further developed and transformed into an innovative Longevity Med Spa.
Under the motto ‘Pleasure doesn't have to be a vice’, our star chefs prove in two restaurants that healthy cuisine can be light and sophisticated at the same time.
Today, Villa Eden is one of the most exclusive retreat hotels in the world, awarded 2 Michelin Keys as well as Best Destination Spa by Condé Nast Traveller.
Dear Mrs Schmid, your father was a visionary hotelier who opened the first ‘Beauty Farm in Italy’ with Villa Eden. In 1993, you took over the elegant hotel and realised your vision of one of the most exclusive retreat hotels in the world. Can you tell us a little about this journey and the philosophy of the hotel?
My father had a revolutionary idea in 1982: he wanted to completely redefine the classic spa hotel concept. He took this private villa and turned it into Italy's first Remise en Forme. The central theme at the time was weight loss.
But a lot has changed over the years. The once strict, regimented spa concept has become a state-of-the-art Longevity Retreat. The number of rooms has been reduced from 45 to 25 exclusive suites, while the medical expertise has been further developed and transformed into an innovative Longevity Med Spa.
Under the motto ‘Pleasure doesn't have to be a vice’, our star chefs prove in two restaurants that healthy cuisine can be light and sophisticated at the same time.
Today, Villa Eden is one of the most exclusive retreat hotels in the world, awarded 2 Michelin Keys as well as Best Destination Spa by Condé Nast Traveller.
Your guests reside in 25 elegant suites whose style you would expect to find in New York or London. What inspired you to create this look?
I am particularly happy to answer this question. We are here, surrounded by the impressive South Tyrolean mountains, in the elegant villa district of the historic spa town of Merano. If we were to opt for a typical Tyrolean style, our guests might get the impression that we are on a mountain - but that wouldn't be quite right.
The villa, built in 1905 in the Belle Époque style, once served as a guest house for a Dutch aristocratic family. We have therefore made a conscious decision to preserve the historic character of the building. In order to realise this ambition at the highest level, we have engaged the best Italian designers and selected master craftsmen.
The result is an ambience that is unrivalled in the Southern Alps: timeless luxury, no ostentation, but refined style, exclusive craftsmanship and uncompromising quality of materials.
Your guests reside in 25 elegant suites whose style you would expect to find in New York or London. What inspired you to create this look?
I am particularly happy to answer this question. We are here, surrounded by the impressive South Tyrolean mountains, in the elegant villa district of the historic spa town of Merano. If we were to opt for a typical Tyrolean style, our guests might get the impression that we are on a mountain - but that wouldn't be quite right.
The villa, built in 1905 in the Belle Époque style, once served as a guest house for a Dutch aristocratic family. We have therefore made a conscious decision to preserve the historic character of the building. In order to realise this ambition at the highest level, we have engaged the best Italian designers and selected master craftsmen.
The result is an ambience that is unrivalled in the Southern Alps: timeless luxury, no ostentation, but refined style, exclusive craftsmanship and uncompromising quality of materials.
You were way ahead of your time with the topics of holistic wellness and longevity. How did you ‘discover’ these areas for yourself? Were they strategic considerations or a logical consequence of the further development of the hotel?
Both. But the decisive factor - and this was pure coincidence - was ultimately my age. I have always been fascinated by health and well-being, but from the age of 50 I gained a completely new perspective on the topic of ‘living better for longer’. It's impressive what we can achieve today with a conscious, healthy lifestyle.
To be honest, I feel fitter today than I did when I was 40 - and that's without giving up the finer things in life. A fine wine from our own vineyard or an excellent meal are simply part of it for me. This passion inspires me and I hope to be able to pass this enthusiasm on to our guests.
You offer health programmes, aesthetic medicine and aesthetic surgery. As a guest, how do I prepare for a stay if I want to take advantage of one of these offers in addition to a luxurious wellness holiday?
Simply look forward to it. Look forward to your stay at Villa Eden - that's the most important thing for us. We'll take care of the rest. And without any pressure or coercion. You alone decide what is good for you.
Our guests are contacted by our team before their arrival in order to make their stay as pleasant - and, if desired, as effective - as possible. The possibilities at Villa Eden are almost limitless: you can experience a lot without feeling rushed.
Our focus? Clearly: your regeneration. Because it is the basis for everything.
Change of theme - culinary delights. Your chef, star chef Marcello Corrado, translates your wellness concept to a culinary level. What can I expect as a guest in Eden's Park Restaurant and in the Tasting Room by Marcello Corrado?
I am particularly proud of this area. When we were able to recruit Marcello for our team, we were ridiculed by colleagues - how can you combine ‘healthy’ with Michelin-starred cuisine? I can tell you: it is possible, and at the highest level.
At Eden's Park Restaurant, our guests can choose between Pleasure and Detox. The menus are developed by Marcello in close collaboration with our longevity specialists, based on the latest findings in nutritional medicine.
The focus is on anti-inflammatory ingredients, superfoods and fermented foods and clever protein combinations. Where possible from our own garden or from regional sources. Sustainable enjoyment without sacrificing pleasure!
The ‘new gourmet cuisine’ can do so much more than many people think. I am convinced that there will be a radical rethink in the area of nutrition in the coming years - and we are proud to play a real pioneering role here.
Villa Eden has its own vineyard, Schloss Rametz. The grapes ripen according to the Guyot system, could you please explain this a little? Which grape varieties do you specialise in?
Our Schloss Rametz vineyard is just a few steps away from Villa Eden. Thanks to the unique climate of South Tyrol, especially the Merano valley basin, we are able to grow a variety of 10 different grape varieties here. This may seem unusual at first, but we love experimenting with nature - and this is exactly what drives us to ever new heights in the wine cellar.
We are particularly proud of our Burgundy wines, which are internationally recognised. They have a very special significance for us, because in 1853 a Burgundy vine was planted for the first time in South Tyrol at Rametz - a true pioneering achievement in the region.
We offer our guests an exclusive wine tour through the castle's historic cellar. Here you can not only learn more about the history of the winery, but also savour our fine wines in a unique atmosphere.
Anyone who has ever been to Merano knows that it is a place spoilt by sun and climate. Where can you experience the magic of Merano particularly well? What are your favourite places?
The microclimate of Merano is indeed unique - and even emperors, kings and tsars knew that. I particularly enjoy visiting the gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, just a few minutes' walk from Villa Eden. These beautifully manicured gardens have rightly been honoured several times as the ‘most beautiful garden in Europe’. Here you will find both tranquillity and inspiration - a perfect place to unwind.
In the warmer summer months, we particularly enjoy taking the cable cars up the nearby local mountains. The fresh air, the natural paradise of the mountains and the breathtaking panorama of the spa town of Merano - all this fills both our guests and me with happiness and joy time and time again. A true experience for all the senses!
Back to Villa Eden. We all long for spring and its lightness. Why is a stay with you in spring particularly recommended?
Although we love winter, we are always delighted when nature awakens in March. It's time to get out and about again - be it on an e-bike or for a relaxing round of golf. After the long winter months, we have been longing for just such activities.
In April, the flowering season begins and our valley is transformed into a veritable sea of colour. This time also brings with it the motivation for a little more fitness and exercise. Perhaps it is also the first weeks of fasting that help us to prepare for the warmer months of the year and to feel fit and healthy all round. A new spring that brings fresh energy into our lives!
The perfect time to visit Villa Eden. Maybe we'll see you soon in Merano. I would be delighted and thank you for this interview.
YOUR HOSTS AT VILLA EDEN
You can contact Angelika Schmid at www.villa-eden.com or by e-mail at info@villa-eden.com .
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