The Contemporary Hermitage: Inside Italy’s First Digital Detox Retreat
By wellness
- Eremito is described as a “Contemporary Hermitage” offering deep spiritual retreat. How does this identity shape the wellbeing experience for guests?
Eremito is built as a modern hermitage, where luxury is defined not by abundance but by simplicity. Surrounded by 3,000 hectares of protected natural reserve, the property invites guests to embrace silence, minimalism, and inner stillness. This unique identity helps create an environment where wellbeing emerges naturally, through reflection, presence, and connection with the essence of life.
- As one of Italy’s first digital detox hotels, how has stepping away from technology influenced the mental and emotional transformation of your guests?
At Eremito, televisions, phones, and electronic distractions are absent from the rooms. Guests are encouraged to keep their mobile phones on silent and use them only outdoors. This deliberate digital detox creates the conditions for genuine rest — reducing stress, quieting the mind, and opening space for emotional clarity and deeper self-awareness.
- The hotel hosts an “Epigenetic Boost Retreat.” Can you explain how this program blends meditation, healthy nutrition, and nature immersion to influence physiological wellbeing?
The retreat weaves together meditation practices, vegetarian cuisine rooted in monastic tradition, and immersion in the rhythms of nature. By slowing down and nourishing the body with simple, wholesome foods, while simultaneously calming the nervous system through mindfulness, guests experience a boost in both physiological and emotional wellbeing. This approach resonates with epigenetic science, which shows how lifestyle can influence cellular health.
- Silence appears to be central at Eremito—during meals, yoga sessions, and even walks. How does embracing silence contribute to guests’ mental clarity and holistic healing?
We believe silence at Eremito is not emptiness, but presence. Shared meals taken in silence, quiet yoga sessions, and contemplative walks through the reserve help reduce mental noise and create space for inner listening. This deep quiet enhances clarity, eases emotional tension, and supports holistic healing of both mind and spirit.
- The architecture and design of Eremito evoke monastic minimalism. How do the “Celluzze” and communal spaces support emotional introspection and physical renewal?
The “Celluzze” rooms, inspired by medieval monastic cells, contain only a single bed, a stone desk, and a window overlooking the valley. Their austere simplicity invites inward reflection and personal renewal. In contrast, communal spaces — often lit by candlelight — encourage subtle connection and shared humanity, striking a balance between solitude and community that enhances both emotional introspection and physical rest.
- Meals are vegetarian, source local ingredients, and are often eaten in shared silence. How do these simple, mindful dining rituals enhance health and emotional connection?
Our meals are rooted in the traditions of self-sufficient monasteries. Ingredients are grown on site or sourced from local eco-friendly farms, with recipes inspired by ancient Mediterranean simplicity. Eating together in silence turns each meal into a mindful ritual: digestion improves, flavors are savored, and guests feel a stronger connection to nature, to their food, and to one another beyond words.
- Eremito offers yoga, meditation, and guided nature walks. Can you walk us through how these gentle movement practices facilitate both mental reset and physical rejuvenation?
These activities are designed to work in harmony with the natural rhythms of the body and environment. Yoga and meditation calm the nervous system, while guided walks through the reserve allow guests to reconnect with the earth. Together, they foster circulation, release muscular tension, and invite a state of mindfulness — a reset for the mind and a rejuvenation for the body.
- The hotel’s upcoming “Sanctuary of Being” retreat invites guests to “Flow Like Water” through mindful movement and presence. What specific wellbeing outcomes do you envision for attendees of this program?
This retreat encourages participants to embody fluidity and let go of rigidity through mindful practices. By “flowing like water,” guests cultivate adaptability, openness, and emotional release. The outcomes we envision include reduced stress, greater resilience, improved vitality, and a renewed sense of ease in body and mind.
- Sustainability is core to Eremito—from composting to candlelight ambiance. How does caring for the environment deepen guests’ sense of wellness and connection to place?
At Eremito, sustainability is not an add-on but a way of life. Photovoltaic energy powers the property, evenings are lit mostly by candlelight, and meals are sourced with ecological care. Guests often report that this mindful approach to the environment heightens their own sense of balance and belonging — wellness becomes not just personal, but deeply connected to the land and its rhythms.
- Designed for solo travelers, Eremito emphasizes solo journeying within a community. What role does solitude—and community—play in healing and self-discovery here?
Eremito was designed with the solo traveler in mind. The experience emphasizes solitude for personal reflection while also providing communal rituals such as shared meals and silent gatherings. This interplay of being alone yet supported by community creates a powerful environment for healing, allowing guests to discover themselves while feeling part of something greater.
