With their jagged, sharp-toothed peaks, crystalline waters and enchanting medieval cities, Northern Italy and Switzerland have beckoned me for years. Legendary mountaineer Reinhold Messner as soon as mentioned, “The Dolomites are an ideal mix of artwork and journey, the place nature has sculpted its personal masterpieces,” and I’ve all the time wished to see these masterpieces for myself. Because the rain began closing in at dwelling in Vancouver, Canada, my buddy Darcy and I launched into a whirlwind tour, touring in a loop from Lake Garda to Lake Como, with a fast Switzerland detour, earlier than lastly making our method to the Dolomites.
PALATIAL MEETS MODERN
Arriving at Lake Garda and pulling as much as Lido Palace, the very first thing we discover is the constructing’s gorgeous façade. The lodge is an ideal mixture of previous and new—whereas the Belle Époque-style exterior, lounges and gardens all exude a timeless class, the rooms are totally fashionable and design-focused, with minimalist furnishings, white and grey particulars and eclectic paintings.
The fashionable influences are most evident, although, within the gorgeous spa. In addition to the indoor and outside swimming pools, there’s a standard Finnish sauna, a number of steam rooms and a pink Himalayan salt room. We spend a protracted, languid afternoon having fun with all of the spa’s delights. My favourite half was the number of “emotional” showers, every serving a unique objective and providing totally different sprays, pressures, temperatures and smells, corresponding to mint, eucalyptus and lemongrass.
Though technically fall, summer time was nonetheless in full swing. The employees remarked that they’d by no means seen such a heat October. It was excellent climate for lounging by the pool, strolling alongside the lakefront promenade and exploring the charming city of Riva del Garda. Within the night, we dined on pizza, seafood and Aperol Spritzes on the terrace of the full of life Bella Napoli restaurant.
On our final morning, we hike alongside the Sentiero del Ponale, an deserted army highway inbuilt 1851 that connects Riva del Garda and Valle di Ledro. Now closed to car visitors and primarily utilized by cyclists and hikers, it winds its manner treacherously alongside the cliffside. It is likely one of the most stunning roads I’ve ever seen. Each nook reveals one other breathtaking panorama of the lake. It was the right method to cap off our first cease.
HONEYMOONER’S PARADISE
Departing Riva del Garda, we head to our subsequent lakefront vacation spot—two nights at Passalacqua on the western shores of Lake Como. Awarded Finest Lodge within the World solely weeks previous to our arrival, the lodge was abuzz with an air of giddy celebration.
The property’s 300 years of heritage are felt from the second you enter the gates. The intense classic hues of rosy pink and mossy inexperienced, mushy classical music, museum-quality artwork, effervescent fountains, glass chandeliers and spectacular terraced gardens all lend an air of refined splendor. At check-in, we’re every given a bouquet of flowers that the in-house florist, Daniela, prepares every day for arriving friends. When proven to our lavish pink suite, we discover additional treats awaiting us—champagne, grapes, a tray of native pastries and extra recent flowers.
After the following day’s leisurely breakfast, we map out our day—morning yoga, a number of hours lounging poolside, a non-public spa session and, lastly, the complimentary exercise of the day: wine tasting. Passalacqua’s philosophy is embracing the fantastic Italian artwork of dolce far niente—doing nothing and having fun with it—and we deliberate on doing precisely that.
The day is each bit as splendid as we hoped. Relaxed and pampered, we head right down to the underground cellar for the wine tasting introduced by the lodge sommelier, Valeria. Sipping numerous reds, whites and glowing rosés, we chat with the opposite friends and are amused to find we’re the one pair not on our honeymoon. This doesn’t shock us within the least—Passalacqua is a real honeymooner’s paradise.
Throughout our brief stint right here, we discover that friends not often appeared to depart the property, and with good motive. Every thing you possibly can presumably want is inside attain. Previously a community of underground stables, the tiered grounds are linked by a winding highway and embrace an underground spa, a gymnasium, a pool, a number of bars, a greenhouse seating space, tennis and bocce courts and way more. We seldom ventured out ourselves, solely leaving to purchase recent fruit and cheese from the market up the highway, then briefly to discover the city’s steep, slender cobblestoned lanes and quaint neighborhood outlets.
THE HILLS ARE ALIVE
Subsequent, we head north, manner north, to Vitznau on the shores of Lake Lucerne, Switzerland. Dotted with quaint Bavarian-style villages that appear plucked out of a storybook, Lake Lucerne is Switzerland at its best. The homes with flower-boxed home windows and steeply pitched roofs are straight out of The Sound of Music, and the emerald hills, cobbled streets, cute cafes and distant melody of cowbells full the postcard-perfect setting. Backdropped by towering Mount Rigi, Park Lodge Vitznau matches completely into this tableau. It’s like staying in a fort out of a fairytale, however one with each fashionable amenity you possibly can presumably need.
Within the morning, we take out complimentary paddleboards and go for a paddle alongside the lakefront, drifting idly previous fishermen and picnicking households, absorbing the views and the quiet of the morning. Then we head for breakfast, which seems to be among the finest meals of our complete journey—not too stunning, contemplating the Michelin-starred restaurant onsite. Darcy was particularly keen on the truffle croque monsieur, whereas I sampled slightly little bit of every part: vanilla bean French toast, crepes with chocolate and caramelized pears, smoked salmon within the form of a flower with a facet of caviar.
I had heard rumors in regards to the lodge’s heated outside infinity pool, and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s 70 toes lengthy and appears immediately out over the magnificent lake and mountainscape. The spa additionally contains an ice grotto, a tepidarium and a floor-to-ceiling saltwater aquarium. Lounging by the pool, we’re delighted to note a marriage being held within the grounds adjoining to the primary constructing. True to the lodge’s nature, it’s a phenomenal, elegant affair, and the music and normal merriment drifting over from the celebration felt like a heat addition to our keep.
The following day, we go for a hike and are handled to extra sights of lush, rolling meadows, wild alpine flowers and sheep scattered alongside the panorama. We wrap up our brief Swiss interlude with dinner at a standard restaurant up the highway, Rütli, serving genuine, hearty Bavarian delicacies.
AN ELEVATED ESCAPE
Looping again round into the province of South Tyrol, we head to the ultimate cease of the journey—FORESTIS within the Dolomites. Because the solar begins to set, we make our manner up the lengthy, winding highway linking the city of Brixen to the lodge, and there, I get my first look on the majestic towering peaks that impressed this journey.
It’s true what they are saying: FORESTIS is paradise for outside fans. The welcome drink is product of flowers and pinetree sap; the furnishings, soaps and shampoos are product of spruce, stone pine and larch; the baths are carved from Dolomite stone. Each facet of the lodge is pared again and easy, letting nature take centerstage.
After a protracted day of journey, we’re excited to move to our first seven-course meal within the amphitheater-style eating room. Each evening presents a unique Forest Delicacies menu, curated by the chef and based mostly on native, pure elements. Every course blows us away, from the pumpkin ravioli and roast beef with artichoke mash to the raspberry sorbet with pistachio and whipped ricotta for dessert.
The following morning, we be part of a guided stroll and Wyda power session within the forest. Wyda is Celtic yoga and is all the time performed outside, with the purpose of attaining mindfulness by reference to nature. Native to the close by village, our information tells us all in regards to the magnificence and ease of life within the mountains.
The remainder of the day we make our personal. Whereas Darcy dips into the unbelievable spa services, I spend most of my time outside, getting misplaced within the mesmerizing labyrinth of trails. There’s a ski resort immediately behind the lodge, so the choices to make your manner up the south-facing Plose slope are countless. From each path, I may look over my shoulder and get one other glimpse of the long-lasting Dolomite views. Within the night, we take pleasure in a glass of wine on our balcony whereas watching the sundown fade behind the craggy peaks.
I take part on the spa actions the following day. Following the instance of the Celts, the fantastic wellness choices use solely components present in nature, and the lodge’s alpine location 1800 meters above sea-level makes it a great spot for R&R. We float within the pool, learn our books in one in all a number of leisure areas and check out the varied steam rooms and Finnish saunas, together with an natural one and a cabin within the forest. Each part has floor-to-ceiling glass home windows, so the mountain views are current always.
On the final evening, we get pre-dinner cocktails and take them exterior to take pleasure in by the roaring hearth. The remoted location makes it an ideal spot for stargazing and quiet contemplation. We savor our final 7-course meal after which reluctantly put together for the journey dwelling. Taking extra trains than we may depend, Darcy spa-ing to her coronary heart’s content material and me fulfilling my alpine wanderlust (for now, at the very least), our journey concerned lots of issues. Nonetheless, we spent a complete lot of time doing nothing in any respect, in the perfect manner.