for winter break
Although Italy is famous as the country of summer and permanent sunshine, many people choose Italy for their ski vacations. Here are five hotels perfect for snow getaways in the Italian mountains.
1) Hotel Forestis, in the Dolomites
It faces the group of the Odles, ready for a virtual climb to be accomplished every morning from the rooms, all south-facing and with a view of the peaks – the new Hotel Forestis Dolomites, above Bressanone, at 1,800 meters of height. The original facility was a sanatorium built a hundred years ago and left abandoned for a long time. An enviable location in a context subject to environmental and landscape limitations. A challenge taken up by the architects Armin Sader and Gian Marco Giovanoli from the Bressanone-based Asaggio firm, appointed by the Hinteregger family, owner of the hotel. Forestis.it
Discover the Hotel Forestis, in the Dolomites
2) The Phoenix of the Matterhorn
You say mountain chalet and immediately think of wooden walls and beams, sloping roofs, and a spartan atmosphere. Not so for Villa Bacchini, a historic residence in Cervinia, damaged by an avalanche in 1980 and rebuilt as it was originally. Purchased by a London family, today the villa is a very luxurious home for a new concept in mountain hospitality. First built in 1936, Villa La Fenice is located just above Cervinia and offers breathtaking views of the Matterhorn and enviable proximity to the ski slopes. Surrounded by lush green meadows in summer and unspoiled white nature in winter, the residence is perfect for a ski holiday, for those who love to be surrounded by a luxurious and highly comfortable environment. Chaletlafenice.com
Discover the Phoenix of the Matterhorn, in Cervinia
3) Icaro, an art hotel in the Dolomites
ICARO Hotel stands out in a landscape of sculptural peaks; all around the building, in fact, you can see the jagged peaks of the Cir on Sassolungo, the Catinaccio of Antermoia, and beyond, up to the Sciliar. Rooms, public spaces, and wellness areas are designed to enjoy the magnificent view as much as possible. The architecture of the building is inspired by the shape of the classic mountain hut, reinterpreted in a contemporary way. Respect for the surrounding nature is evident in the choice of larch boards for the exterior cladding, and spruce, oak, and elm for the interior; wood, therefore, plays a fundamental role in this architecture. The new luxury concept is also based on conscious use of energy. Since 2010, ICARO Hotel has been the first zero impact hotel in the Dolomites. Hotelicaro.com
Discover the Icaro hotel in the Dolomites
4) Imperialart, an art hotel in Merano
In the center of Merano, in the posh heart of the old town center of one of the prettiest small towns in the Alps, is the Imperialart Boutique & Design Hotel. The mini-boutique hotel features only 12 rooms and suites, with breathtaking mountain views and hospitality of the highest caliber. The hotel, the brainchild of couple Alfred Strohmer and Jutta von den Benken, enhanced the historic building, leaving the 1899 Art Nouveau facade and interior staircase untouched. The rooms featured interventions by three Merano artists and one fashion designer, Elisabeth Hölzl, Ulrich Egger, and Marcello Jori, internationally renowned local artists. In 2020, Merano fashion designer Dimitri (Dimitrios Panagiotopoulos), created an additional room with architect Joachim Clemens; for this design, Dimitri and Clemens picked up elements from the former Café Imperial. Architect Harald Stuppner, on the other hand, designed the renovation of the building, keeping the original Art Nouveau charm intact, and adding balconies on the back side, to immerse oneself in Merano life. Imperialart.it
Discover the Imperialart Boutique & Design Hotel
5) The Winkler Hotel
The landscape beauty of the Dolomites is combined with the architectural beauty of the Winkler Hotel. The code words are stillness and brightness. The five-star facility, characterized by large windows, interrupts the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces, thus making the stay magical and entirely focused on the customer’s needs. Everything is designed in detail, to take the guest into a new dimension in which nature, quality and well-being live together and make you feel calm and peaceful. Winklerhotels.com
Discover the Winkler Hotel
