- The Palace Merano is a **5-star hotel and medical spa** housed in a neoclassical palace dating from 1906, located in the heart of Merano, Italian South Tyrol.
- The historic birthplace of Italian detox, it now applies its **in-house Revital method** (following Henri Chenot’s departure in 2020), across more than 6,000 m² dedicated to health.
- Our rating: **9.1/10**. Detox and longevity programmes start from approximately €2,580 for 4 days, with comprehensive medical supervision.
In Merano, a spa town nestled between the Alps and the Dolomites, a Belle Époque palace houses one of Europe’s most renowned medical spas. The **Palace Merano has built its legend on detox and longevity**. We scrutinised its offerings, method, programmes, rooms, treatments, cuisine, and prices. Here is our full review.
The Palace Merano, a Pioneer of Medical Spas in Italy
Opened in 1906, this neoclassical palace with nearly a hundred rooms was one of the first establishments to combine luxury hospitality with preventive medicine. Surrounded by a century-old park in the heart of Merano, it has established itself as **Italy’s premier medical spa**, recognised in 2025 by the Condé Nast Traveller Wellness & Spa Awards. Here, guests do not come for a classic spa holiday, but for a genuine, medically supervised cure.
From the Chenot Method to the Revital Method
It was here that Henri Chenot, naturopath and bio-energetician, popularised his renowned detox cure from the 1980s, based on toxin elimination and energetic medicine. **In 2020, Henri Chenot left Merano for Switzerland**, taking his name and protocols with him. The Palace retained the location, the team, and twenty years of expertise, renaming its approach the **Revital method**, now overseen by scientific director Dr Massimiliano Mayrhofer. An important distinction: the historic ‘Chenot’ is now located in Weggis, Switzerland.
The Detox and Longevity Programmes
The core of the experience lies in the **tailor-made programmes**, typically lasting one week. The signature Detox & Longevity programme aims to eliminate toxins and reactivate metabolism (from €3,290 for 4 days, €4,880 for 6 days). Alongside it are: Revital Spa (wellbeing, from €2,580), Sport & Fitness (from €4,140), Sport Performance (from €6,480), and Relax & Balance (from €5,530). Each cure begins with a **comprehensive medical assessment** that customises treatments, activities, and diet.
Rooms in a Neoclassical Palace
The Palace offers **around twenty room categories**, almost all distinct, ranging from Comfort to Park Deluxe, which open onto the park or the Tessa mountain group. At the pinnacle are the Castello Suites and the Sissi Imperial Suite, inspired by Empress Elisabeth of Austria. The decor, **neoclassical and subdued, never gives way to ostentation**: comfort and calm are prioritised, consistent with the spirit of the cure.
A Health Centre Spanning Over 6,000 m²
This is the venue’s major strength. The Palace Merano boasts a **health and wellness centre spanning over 6,000 m²**, including a medical department of approximately 1,500 m²: analysis laboratory, hydro-fangotherapy, bio-energetics, nutrition, regenerative aesthetic medicine, fitness, and a Sport & Recovery Lab. It features an indoor pool, a large outdoor pool, sauna, hammam, Kneipp bath, and a dedicated women’s area. The **medical diagnostics are among the most advanced in the sector**, with an in-house medical practice and a 24/7 service.
Hydrotherapy, Mud Wraps, and Draining Massages
Daily, the cure involves a sequence of **hydro-aromatherapy baths, detoxifying mineral mud wraps, and energetic draining massages**. These treatments, inherited from the house’s detox tradition, stimulate lymphatic circulation and elimination. The entire process is paced by the medical team, driven by a results-oriented approach rather than mere relaxation.
Revital Cuisine, a Delicious Detox
At the table, it’s all about **Revital cuisine: light, plant-based, and calorie-calibrated** according to each guest’s programme. Far from deprivation, it focuses on nutritional balance and pleasure, with precise portion control. Meals, consultations, and treatments are generally included in the packages.
Merano, an Ideal Setting for a Cure
The location benefits from Merano’s **mild microclimate**, on the edge of the Alps and the Dolomites, renowned for its almost Mediterranean mildness. The hotel is surrounded by a private century-old park, a short walk from the town centre’s arcades and the Tappeiner promenade. A soothing setting that naturally extends the benefits of the cure.
Who is it for, and at what price?
The Palace Merano caters to a **discerning clientele seeking serious health treatment**: overworked executives, public figures, athletes, and detox regulars. It is neither a festive getaway nor a gastronomic interlude: the packages, which amount to **thousands of euros per week**, are understood as a health investment, with medical examinations sometimes charged as extra.
Our Review of Palace Merano
The Palace Merano ticks all the boxes for a leading medical spa: **genuine medical supervision, an XXL health centre, and two decades of detox expertise**, all within a characterful palace in the heart of Merano. Henri Chenot’s departure in 2020 meant losing its most famous name, but the experience remains of a very high standard under the Revital brand. It is best reserved for those genuinely seeking a cure, not just a simple wellness break. **Our rating: 9.1/10.**
✅ Health centre spanning over 6,000 m²
✅ Two decades of detox expertise
✅ Neoclassical palace and century-old park in the heart of Merano
⚠️ A cure and discipline-focused experience, not a festive getaway
⚠️ No longer the historic « Chenot » (moved to Switzerland in 2020)
