Palm trees, endless beaches, sea and sun in abundance. Hotel Villaggio TudoBom rises in one of the most distinctive and romantic areas of Ceará. In Uruaú, just a short distance from the lagoon of the same name and roughly 90 kilometres south of Fortaleza, the resort is built like a small village, made up of 5 houses, 20 rooms, a restaurant with bar, a swimming pool and a tropical garden.

Energy saving, attention to materials, local labour. But also zero-food-miles menus, renewable energy and interiors made from reclaimed materials. This is the philosophy chosen to create this small oasis amid the dunes of Ceará.

It is also the philosophy followed by Renzo Fausone, an Italian entrepreneur from Canelli, in the province of Asti, who invested here by building an eco-sustainable structure, bringing with him entrepreneurial skill, a joy for living and the passion for work that distinguishes so many Italians abroad. "We started construction 10 years ago, when there was practically nothing here," he explains with a certain satisfaction. "It wasn't just the essential materials that were missing, like cement or ceramic tiles," he points out, "all the skilled workers were missing too. Very few bricklayers, very few carpenters, to say nothing of joiners or electricians." Indeed, Uruaú remains, to this day, a small fishing village. Alongside the building work, training courses were therefore set up for the local population, to create the workforce the hospitality facility would need. All employees come from the surrounding area.

No air conditioning — the sea takes care of it. The rooms, as well as the restaurant and the entire structure, were designed to make the most of natural ventilation, which here, thanks to the proximity of the ocean, is never in short supply. Guests can therefore rest without ever needing to switch on the air conditioning, saving electrical energy. Hot water is produced by solar installations that harness the warm rays of the equatorial sun. Water itself is never scarce here, thanks to the numerous natural springs in the area.

The interiors are simple, well-finished, with a rustic yet modern feel. Wood and quebrado (burnt) concrete are the most widely used raw materials — part of the local tradition, inexpensive and easy to produce. The seats, tables and armchairs are made using cipò de fogo, a liana typical of Ceará, which local women weave into home furnishings. The external structures of the patio and the restaurant dining room are built using the trunks of coconut palms, which thrive here in abundance.

Local cuisine, orchard on site. Strolling through the tropical garden, one wanders among the various fruit plants typical of this part of the world. Here, chef Joao Augusto Marino, a paulista of distant Italian heritage, picks the goiaba directly from the branches every day — a sweet, fleshy fruit reminiscent of the fig. And then mango, bananas, pineapple, the wonderfully fragrant lime, and a particular fruit whose juice is drunk: the graviola, which according to the latest studies is indicated as a food with innumerable beneficial properties. All fish, meat and vegetables come from the nearby markets, which the chef visits daily.

Sea, sport and relaxation. The Uruaú lagoon, like the entire coastline, is a sought-after destination for kiters and windsurfers from around the world. There is no shortage of well-equipped centres where one can practise this sport, halfway between sky and sea. The facility also organises a programme for visitors dedicated to health and wellbeing. In collaboration with operators from the Nucleo Gaia association, which works in both countries, guests can enjoy a week designed to rediscover serenity and balance: meditative moonlit walks, therapeutic treatments and biodynamic experiences.

A different Brazil, far removed from European stereotypes. A serene, welcoming, safe land, where nature and a certain unhurried pace help one to rediscover values that are all too often forgotten.

[box title="What you need to know"]To travel to Brazil, all you need is a passport valid for at least six months before departure. No visa is required.

To reach Fortaleza from Malpensa, Air Italy offers weekly flights departing on Thursdays, in both economy and business class. In Uruaú, guests can stay at Hotel Villaggio TudoBom, run by Italian entrepreneurs to European service standards. From here the hotel organises excursions along the entire coastline, from Fortaleza to Ponta Grossa. For holistic weeks, guests can contact the facility directly or the Nucleo Gaia association. [/box]