Italy
Eco-lodges in Italy: the best places to stay
Italy’s best eco-lodges
Across Italy, small independent hotels are rethinking how tourism interacts with the environment. These eco-lodges use renewable energy, reduce water consumption and source materials and food locally. Many are run by families or small teams with a long-standing connection to the land, which influences everything from building design to the menus served. At these eco-lodges you will find waste reduction programs, on-site gardens and low-impact activities that keep the focus on the surrounding landscape and community. Each of these stays offers you a chance to slow down, eat well and feel the rhythm of the local landscape. Ready to explore some of the best eco-friendly accommodations Italy has to offer? Let’s dive in.
Top photography courtesy of Borgo Pignano
01
Cascioni Eco Retreat
Set on a private estate beside the Saloni nature reserve, Cascioni Eco Retreat draws on the architectural lines of traditional Sardinian stazzo farmhouses. Its 15 suites open onto private gardens and plunge pools, framed by olive trees and low stone walls. Interiors combine natural textures, hand-finished wood and muted tones to echo the landscape. The property’s groves supply the oil you can help harvest and bottle, keeping a direct link to the island’s agricultural traditions. When you’re ready to wander the sea, hop aboard their sailing yacht and explore hidden coves of Gallura or return to the onsite spa for relaxation and quiet time.
Cascioni Eco Retreat
SP 59 bis
Arzachena
Italy
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Photography courtesy of Cascioni Eco Retreat
02
Borgo Pignano
On 750 organic acres outside Volterra, Borgo Pignano is a restored medieval village brought back to life with purpose. Solar panels, biomass heating, reed-bed water filtration and biodynamic vineyards form part of its closed-loop system. Rooms, suites and stand-alone villas retain original stone walls and timber beams, offset by contemporary Tuscan furniture. The kitchen garden supplies vegetables, herbs, honey and olive oil, while the Michelin Green Star restaurant works almost entirely with the estate’s produce. After you’re delicious meal you can join workshops on soap-making or walk with the resident herbalist to learn about wild plants used for teas and treatments. Paths lead past lavender fields and orchards, giving the sense of staying in a living, working landscape.
Borgo Pignano
Localita' Pignano
Volterra
Italy
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Photography courtesy of Borgo Pignano
03
La Forestale Luxury Ecolodge
Set on the cliffs above the Gola del Furlo nature reserve, La Forestale Luxury Ecolodge transforms a former forest warden’s barracks into a minimal and thoughtful B&B that radiates calm. The design honours Bauhaus simplicity and light, emphasising functionality and deep integration with nature. The interiors use untreated wood, steel and stone in a way that reflects the rugged valley views from every window. Solar panels, heat-pump systems and Class-A energy-rated appliances reduce the building’s footprint. Here time is best spent by the outdoor pool or exploring walking trails that wind through oak woods and truffle-rich terrain.
La Forestale Luxury Ecolodge
Str. Monte Furlo 1
Acqualagna
Italy
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Photography courtesy of La Forestale Luxury Ecolodge
04
Araldo Eco-Lodge
In the mountain village of Bosco Chiesanuova, Araldo Eco-Lodge offers a quiet, comfortable base for exploring the Lessinia Natural Park. Rooms are bright and airy, with balconies overlooking the village or surrounding hills. Some include fireplaces and all are equipped with energy-efficient systems to reduce environmental impact. The lodge’s restaurant serves Italian dishes prepared with produce from local suppliers. They even have vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options available. After a day of hiking or cycling, you can kick back and relax at the outdoor bar and terrace.
Araldo Eco-Lodge
Via Carcereri 22
Bosco Chiesanuova
Italy
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Photography courtesy of Araldo Eco-Lodge
05
Hotel Saltus
At 1,100 metres above sea level in San Genesio Atesino, Hotel Saltus is surrounded by forest and open to the Dolomite skyline. Family-owned and run, the hotel was designed to encourage immersion in nature, from the infinity pool filled with mountain spring water to guided forest-bathing walks. Interiors use larch wood, clay plaster and wool for a warm and pared-back atmosphere. Energy is supplied through renewable sources and water is drawn from a natural mountain spring. Wellness programmes focus on both physical and mental restoration, with saunas, yoga classes and seasonal treatments inspired by Alpine traditions. The setting, combined with the hotel’s understated approach to sustainability, makes it a rare place where design, ecology and wellbeing come together to create the ultimate eco-friendly wellness retreat.
Hotel Saltus
Via Freigasse 8b
San Genesio Atesino
Italy
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Photography courtesy of Hotel Saltus
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