From majestic Venice to historic Rome, cultural Turin to the islands of Sardinia and Ischia, Luxury Lifestyle Hotels & Resorts is beguiled by the charms of Italy.
RELAIS VILLA MATILDE
ITALY, Turín
Set in a 16th-century villa and surrounded by an immaculate garden of lush parkland, plantains and chestnut trees, recent renovations have brought Relais Villa Matilde back to life in all of its original glory. The main building offers 20 rooms and suites with painted ceilings and wooden floors, all connected by elegant halls. There’s a total of 43 rooms throughout the hotel, comprising Superior, De Luxe and Classical Suites, plus Bi-level Suites and Junior Suites. The stunning grounds feature original horse stables which have been lovingly converted into Le Scuderie restaurant, and an outdoor swimming pool and fully equipped spa have also been added.
L’OSTELLIERE
ITALY, Turín
This conveniently accessible hideaway lies between Piedmont and Liguria and was originally built in the 18th century. Located within the Monterotondo Estate, the largest producer of Gavi di Gavi wine, L‘Ostelliere’s hilltop location overlooks 100 hectares of hotel-owned vineyards. There are two bars – one with an open fireplace, and one in the herb gardens – as well as restaurant La Gallina. The hotel boasts a function room with a twist: an historic vaulted wine cellar, lit by candles and surrounded by stacks of wine casks, that can cater for 400 guests. Activities include culinary classes, harvesting and winemaking packages; truffle hunting weeks, Vespa tours and picnics in the vineyards. As for shopping, southern Europe’s largest factory outlet centre is just 5km away.
TRAVEL CHARME HOTEL IS ARENAS
ITALY, Sardinia
This five-star hotel is located on the west coast of Sardinia, near the peninsula of Sinis, 20km from the provincial capital Oristano. Surrounded by 750 hectares of lush pine forest, this luxury resort opened in June 2008 with 62 large, contemporary rooms and suites, designed by the Italian architect Lorenzo Bellini. The 4.5km of untouched sandy beach is directly accessible through the dunes. Alternatively, a huge freshwater outdoor pool is at the guests’ disposal for a refreshing swim while other water sports are provided on the beach. The resort offers a choice of several restaurants and bars; the highlight is The Beach Club which guarantees the ultimate dining experience. For golfers there is an 18-hole golf course just a buggy ride away.
CA’ SAGREDO
ITALY, Venice
Ca’ Sagredo is a striking new luxury five-star hotel in Venice overlooking the Grand Canal between the Ca’ d’Oro and the Rialto Bridge. The hotel typifies the perfect Venetian palazzo hotel, where exceptional decoration, style and quality are effortlessly combined with contemporary chic. Dating back to the 15th century, the palace retains many examples of its glorious past; period furnishing, precious fabrics and magnificent art works can be seen throughout. Each of the 42 spacious rooms and suites is elegantly decorated; most offer enviable views across the Grand Canal. Every detail of the hotel has been carefully renovated using state-of-the-art technology. Today Ca’ Sagredo is once again open to the public and is set to become one of the most fashionable addresses in Venice.
IL MORESCO HOTEL & THERMAL SPA
ITALY, Ischia
This delightful hotel is nestled amid the fragrant pinewoods of Ischia, the largest island in the Gulf of Naples, renowned for its natural hot springs and healing thermal waters. The Moorish architecture of ‘Il Moresco’ complements the natural surroundings, with the white tower of the main building peeking through a mantle of trees offering glimpses of the Mediterranean in the distance. Located in the fashionable Lido area, hotel guests enjoy the quiet that prevails, yet are within reach of nearby cafés, restaurants and boutiques. An excellent spa offers thermal treatments, massages and beauty rituals with red wine extracts. Il Moresco is ideally positioned for exploring Ischia, while Capri, Naples, Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Pompei are easily reachable for daily excursions.
EUROSTARS INTERNATIONAL PALACE
ITALY, Rome
Eurostars International Palace is a charming 19th-century gem situated in Via Nazionale in the heart of Rome: perfectly located for shopping, trips and major cultural and theatrical attractions. The hotel, with its classical Renaissance-style façade, has a warm, elegant atmosphere. From the main entrance a magnificent gallery leads to a welcoming hall and a cosy sitting room, the perfect place to relax or curl up with a good book. This stunning hotel offers 175 Classic and Superior rooms. The Classic rooms are sumptuously decorated in an elegant and traditional style with soft shades of cream, blues and greens, while the Superior rooms are beautifully designed with exclusive wooden furniture and warm red and dark brown nuances.
www.llhotels.com/internationalpalace
NEW HOTEL MEMBERS IN LUXURY LIFESTYLE HOTELS & RESORTS
HOTEL WENTZL
POLAND, Krakow
Hotel Wentzl was originally built in the 15th century as a private residence. It boasts a prime location right on the market square of the medieval city of Krakow in Poland. In 1792, John Wentzl converted the building into a restaurant with guest rooms. Today, this unique boutique hotel offers 12 charming and sizeable rooms, all of them sumptuously decorated with precious fabrics and oriental rugs, and furnished with exquisite antiques. More than 200 years after its foundation, the Restaurant Wentzl continues to receive countrywide recognition for both its traditional and meticulously kept interior as well as for its regional cuisine.
HOTEL STEIN
AUSTRIA, Salzburg
Hotel Stein, located in an historic building on the banks of the Salzach river, has been operating as an eatery and a coach house inn since 1399. It has recently been revamped to four-star level, combining art deco features and antique furniture with contemporary design elements. The 35 Designer Rooms, 12 Junior Suites and eight Suites are spread over six floors and all feature the latest in modern conveniences. The spectacular Stein Terrasse on the seventh floor offers a hip café, bistro, restaurant and bar which has fast become Salzburg’s place to see and be seen. From here there are views over the river and historic town.
AKTIVHOTEL VERONIKA
AUSTRIA, Seefeld
Situated at 1,200m, in the romantic Tyrolean town of Seefeld, the Aktivhotel Veronika has been owned and managed by the Kirchmair family since 1928. Over the decades it has been carefully extended and renovated. The 46 rooms and six suites reflect the hotel’s alpine surroundings. In the restaurant, regional ingredients are used to celebrate mouthwatering Tyrolean cuisine. The recently extended spa boasts an indoor pool with Jacuzzi, a fully equipped ‘wellness oasis’ and beauty parlours. For the active, Seefeld offers an abundance of sports activities in all seasons including skiing, ice skating, hiking, golfing, mountain biking and more.