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The Blush Pages are curated by The Aficionados, our travel & lifestyle inspired journal full of insightful blog posts from the realms of hotels, architecture, design, artisans, culture and products all highlighting our taste of the good life made simple.
Inspiration, fun and insider travel tips from The Aficionados.
Vienna, Hall in Tirol, Salzburg and Innsbruck are our Kirsche on the cake urban pitstops - our cultural heartthrobs, hubs of Habsburg heritage, Petri dishes of arty accomplishments and showcases of the city’s status markers of old.
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Bolzano: The Gateway to South Tyrol
From its cultural heart to the altitudinous pleasures it offers, we put Bolzano in the headlights to explore its heritage core, architectural merit, stylish stays, foodie forays and more.
Bolzano’s Beating Heart
The capital of South Tyrol, and for many the starting point to adventures in the region, Bolzano is a small scenic town cradled by the dramatic peaks of the UNESCO-protected Dolomites and undulating valleys with unmistakable vineyards snaking around the verdant landscapes. The city itself has an energetic vibe thanks to annual cultural festivals and the university students, set against a backdrop of heritage haunts: the medieval castles, Gothic churches and wide piazzas.
Although very much living in present with a lively café culture, wine and restaurant scene, to get under the skin of Bolzano is to understand the unique setting, close to Austria yet within its own micro-culture of South Tyrol, with a trilingual influence of Italian, German and Ladin. Once an important stop as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it was also supressed during fascist rule in the Twenties. Today its fusion culture is very much its calling card, along with the irresistible draw of nature, framed by the drama of the Dolomites.
Hello Hotels
Cradled by the jagged Dolomite region are some of The Aficionados’ most notable, striking and characterful hotels, many of them built with love, handed down through families or starting afresh with a vision for the future. In Bolzano itself enjoy the proximity of greenery at Parkhotel Mondschein; the suburbs of Bolzano give us Magdalener Hof, a playful bolthole of style.
Further afield Gloriette and Schgaguler are our architectural beacons, inspirational abodes that are sculpted by clever design, whereas Schloss Freudenstein in Appiano harks back to regal splendour in a 12th century castle.
North of Bolzano is Lana where Mira Monti Boutique hotel greets us with captivating style and a rooftop pool. Villa Arnica is a place of chic repose wrapped in nostalgic acclaim and 1477 Reichhalter’s salvaged charm adorns this chilled guesthouse.
Cultural Markers
To know a region well is to explore through its foodie customs and traditions. In Bolzano, the gateway to South Tyrol, produce is bountiful sourced from the meadows, mountains and verdant forests. Get to know the epicureans of South Tyrol and the hybrid cuisine that draws from Italy and Austria creating a micro gastronomy that focus on fresh and seasonal alongside the mainstays of dairy, cured meats, schnitzel and thick soups.
Moving with the times, South Tyrolean architects have made their mark too, framing Dolomite landscapes with innovative design that’s rooted in nature to create sustainable solutions that just feel good. We’re inspired by our friend Peter Pichler who with his architectural design studio always take their cue from the surrounding panoramas to create a pure, natural design that sings with splendour such as Schgaguler Hotel and Milla Montis. Elsewhere in the region you can admire modern beacons of design to be, like that on Virgl Mountain where a new cultural hub and cable car system is in the planning, designed by Snøhetta, an international architecture and interior design studio. Not to be missed is Museion Bolzano, designed by Berlin-based architects KSV Krüger Schuberth Vandreike, a striking, cubic structure that houses contemporary art and photography from local and international artists.
From Port to Wine - a new generation of winemakers is working with old vines and native grapes on the region’s dramatic slopes to craft a new wave of wines that speak of this unique region.
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At the foot of Mount Titlis in the picturesque Urner Alps and in the heart of Switzerland, is the Obwalden village aptly named Mountain of Angels - Engelberg, just 35km from Lucerne and 90km from Zurich.
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From vast Doric columns to tiny, intricately carved religious artefacts, beautifully smooth busts and imposing door lintels, the Museum of Marble Craft in Tinos reveals the surprising malleability of this revered material.
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As well as skiing and hiking the Silvretta glacier at 3,000 metres, winter hikes are popular as are snowshoe tours and cross-country skiing. The region has over 74 cable cars and lifts that connect the 297 kilometres of ski slopes, perfectly designed to ensure speedy runs and perfect days on powder.
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Reworked timbers, laden cloths, traditional carpentry, engineering and architectural imagination often escort these contemporary hotels of modern alpine design and creativity. Less is sometimes more in the Alps.
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Our Favourite Femmes of Style - hotel matriarchs, interior gurus, fashion femmes, and women of effortless charm who make the world a better place from the entrepreneurs to the skincare disruptors.
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The perfect winter pairing must be spa and ski – and where better to indulge than in a luxury retreat hotel clasped in the alpine mountains framed by snow-dusted peaks.
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Palm house meandering, the tropics, lost species, history and the perfect green escape in the city - explore these botanical gardens inspired by royals and a love letter to science.
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Heritage and a touch of romance escort this edit of aged beauties - hotels cast from former palacios, monasteries and coaching inns, which celebrate history in style.
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Enjoy the white stuff at the Gitschberg Jochtal Ski and Almen region, where life is geared towards enjoying the best of the mountains. Gourmand meets cool skier probably best describes the kind of person that fits right in here, although families are also drawn to the easy-going lifestyle and good time ski resorts.
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