Relaxation was central to Ninna Nanna. The host had studied Ayurveda and relaxing massage with teachers of ayurvedic medicine from New Delhi and built a small wellness offering around that experience.
What Is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is the traditional, holistic health-care system of India and one of the world's oldest approaches to wellbeing, pre-dating even Chinese medicine. More than a set of techniques, it is a way of life encompassing diet, movement, rest and self-awareness, with the aim of restoring balance between body and mind. For a clear, research-based overview of ayurvedic practices and what modern science says about them, the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health publishes an excellent in-depth guide.
Treatments Available
The host specialised in ayurvedic and relaxing massages, using aromatherapy oils prepared with essential oils and traditional herbs such as turmeric, gotu kola and triphala. The period treatment list included:
- Ayurvedic full-body massage with warm aromatic oils
- Hot stone massage
- Shirodhara — the slow, continuous pouring of warm oil on the forehead, deeply calming
- Tibetan singing bowls sessions
- Yoga and guided meditation, individually or in small groups
The Wellness Area
A dedicated relaxation room hosts the massages and treatments, while the adjoining wellness zone completes the experience: sauna, Turkish bath, hammam, emotional showers with hydro-massage and chromotherapy. The classic guest ritual is a late-afternoon sequence — sauna, cool shower, massage, herbal tea in the garden — that leaves the day's sightseeing miles behind you.
A Slow Holiday Philosophy
The wellness offering is part of what we call the slow holiday: leisure, well-being and relaxation as the actual purpose of the trip, not a bonus squeezed between museum visits. Many guests build their stay around it — a morning in Mantua or on the lake, an afternoon by the pool, a treatment before dinner. The quiet location does the rest: no traffic, no noise, just the countryside.
Treatment Reservations
Treatments were reserved for guests of the bed and breakfast and were subject to availability. Sessions varied in length and intensity. The visitor information page summarizes the historical facilities.