La Dolce Vita: 3 Alpine Hot Spots for an Autumn Escape
Mandarin Oriental Lago di Como
Of rare and wild beauty, adored by celebrities - from Gianni Versace in his day to George Clooney, Brad Pitt, or Natalie Portman lately - the Lake Como region offers a total reconnection to nature, just 50 kilometers from the Milanese effervescence. Located between the lake and the mountains, the Mandarin Oriental Lago di Como reveals its new face after a complete renovation. Nestled in Blevio and surrounded by lush gardens, the palace revolves around the Villa Roccabruna, a nineteenth-century neoclassical residence. In addition to its gourmet restaurant, the Aria, you can relax in the spa of this haven of peace with breathtaking views: 1300 square meters dedicated to the benefits of water in all its forms from the Kneipp circuit to the hammam, through the sensory showers and the salt cave of the Himalayas. The highlight of this immersive experience unparalleled? A meditative swim in the 16-meter outdoor pool, as levitated on the lake.
Como Castello del Nero
Planted in the Tuscan countryside in the middle of the Chianti wine region, the Como group's latest birth takes place inside the Castello del Nero, a twelfth-century castle redesigned from floor to ceiling by the talented Paola Navone. On the program of this bucolic postcard: a starred restaurant that celebrates Italian gastronomy and remains faithful to the Como philosophy, "from the farm to the table" - the area of 740 hectares includes its own hives and olive groves. Ideal for recharging its batteries as winter approaches, the elegant 5-star hotel also offers the Como Shambhala treatments that have made the reputation of the hotel group, complemented by an exceptional thermal heritage.
Il Palazzo Experimental
Overworked and on the brink of burnout? For a moment, nothing is granted for yourself in Venice, the time for a parenthesis that aerates the body as well as the spirit. The undisputed leader of the young hotel guard, the Experimental Group now invests the Serenissima and signs one of the most remarkable openings of this end of the year. At the origin of the transformation of this gem of the Renaissance, including 32 rooms and suites, the very talented Dorothée Meilichzon. With its Breccia Capraia marble, antique mirrors, and hand-made enamelled tiles, the three-door jewel case on the Giudecca Canal is a brilliant reinterpretation of the fundamentals of Italian design. Nerve center of this warm spot on a human scale, its restaurant, which offers a local and seasonal map, supported by homemade pasta and cheeses straight from the surrounding farms.
