Sicily has long been associated with beauty, history, and the Mediterranean way of life—but now, it may also hold a key to healthy ageing. Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte hotel on the island’s southwest coast, has just unveiled a new Longevity Programme at the award-winning Irene Forte Spa, drawing inspiration from a remarkable discovery in the nearby Sicani Mountains.
The programme is rooted in scientific research led by Professor Gianni Pes—one of the original Blue Zone researchers—and biogerontologist Professor Calogero Caruso. After nearly two decades studying ageing populations in Sicily, the pair have identified the mountain town of Caltabellotta, just 22 kilometres from Verdura, as an emerging Blue Zone. Their research, supported by Verdura Resort, highlights the town’s unique demographic profile and links the longevity of its residents to a lifestyle grounded in nature, tradition, and strong social bonds.
“We had long suspected something unique was happening in Sicily’s mountain towns,” says Professor Pes. “Caltabellotta stood out, not only in the data, but in its deeply rooted traditions, diet, and way of life.”
Irene Forte echoes this sentiment: “I’ve been visiting this town for over a decade. I love it so much that I chose to get married here, and I’m proud to be an honorary citizen. To now see it recognised through such rigorous science is deeply moving. It confirms what we’ve always felt in our bones – this place has something special and is one of the reasons why Irene Forte Skincare is deeply rooted in Sicily.”
That ‘something special’ now forms the foundation of the resort’s new Longevity Programme, which combines modern diagnostics with age-old Sicilian practices. Guests undergo blood panel analysis, food sensitivity testing, and 3D skin diagnostics to personalise treatments and nutrition plans. But they’re also invited to take part in more holistic rituals: hiking through the Sicani hills, eating home-grown produce, and absorbing the slow rhythms of nature.
At the heart of the experience is Irene Forte Skincare, described as a kind of Mediterranean diet for the skin. Created using ingredients grown on Verdura’s organic farm and backed by 40 years of research, the formulations embody the same fusion of nature and science that defines the new programme.
Meanwhile, menus are curated by renowned chef Fulvio Pierangelini and clinical nutritionist Giancarlo Giammarresi to deliver nourishment that is both deeply satisfying and nutritionally balanced. The focus is on re-educating the body to crave what it truly needs—fuel that energises, heals, and promotes longevity.
Guests are guided through every step of their stay, from expert consultations and thalassotherapy to movement classes, spa treatments, and a signature trek through the longevity-rich Sicani Mountains. A traditional lunch concludes the trek, offering a moment to reflect, connect, and savour the local way of life.
Professor Caruso calls Caltabellotta “a natural laboratory for longevity,” where the convergence of clean air, fresh food, community, and low-stress living creates an environment that supports vitality well into old age. While genes do play a role, the researchers emphasise that our daily habits, surroundings, and emotional wellbeing matter more.
The Longevity Programme at Verdura Resort is available as a six- or ten-day experience, starting from €4,609. Each element—from diagnostics and nutrition to guided movement and relaxation—is designed to offer guests a meaningful reset and a framework they can take home with them.
Set across 230 hectares of olive groves, citrus orchards, and private coastline, Verdura Resort is a destination in itself. Alongside its spa, the resort is home to two award-winning golf courses, a range of dining options, and 203 rooms, suites, and private hillside villas overlooking the Mediterranean.
By blending pioneering wellness science with the essence of Sicilian life, Verdura Resort’s new Longevity Programme offers not just an escape—but a potential blueprint for longer, healthier living.
To find out more about Verdura Resort and book, visit the links below…
Verdura Resort
S.S. 115 KM 131
92019 Sicily
Italy
Web: roccofortehotels.com
Tel: +39 09 259982008
Email: concierge.verdura@roccofortehotels.com
Instagram: @verduraresortsicily
Facebook: @VerduraResortSicily