Ansitz Steinbock

Austere beauty and chunky grandeur are the inaugural hallmarks of boutique Hotel Ansitz Steinbock, a 15th-century castle and glacial-grey monolith perched on the slopes of the South Tyrolean village of Villandro in northern Italy.

Making an imposing Gothic entrance with its Puritan elegance and welcomed by its frescoed coat of arms, by contrast, inside Ansitz Steinbock is all about cosy design and authentic warmth. Within the old stone walls are cradled a wood-panelled Stube, airy, contemporary-styled suites and fine dining that has welcomed locals and visitors since 1750.

Peeling back the layers of history to reach the purity of the castle’s architecture was a clear design intention. A walled entranceway, castle exterior and cobbled inner courtyard stand grandly as it always was, where the ghosts of history whisper past. Inside, original spruce flooring, hundreds of years old and loam-plastered walls coat the lofty surrounding in the historical drama, while a less-is-more, softer approach to interior design ushers in a comfort-headlining ambience.

Custom-designed furnishings by interior fitters Erlacher in Barbiano, wooden saunas, deep freestanding baths and sink-into-me sofas are the accents of modern life, and all around are soothing natural materials: local pine, smoked oak, cast iron, marble, basalt and wool, set to a pleasingly subdued palette of charcoal grey, white marl and timber tones. A landmark castle of design romance and fabulous food, beautifully rooted in the past.

The twelve suites are the surprise star of the show, and that really says something, residing as they are in the grandiose clasp of this 15th century castle and its impactful arrival. This is due to a sensitive remodelling of space and form, creating a modern warmth and cosiness with stone, glass and wood.

Testament to this conscientious design, the suites are comfort personified, some with beamed ceilings and wooden dividers to demarcate the spacious rooms. A deep sofa here, a vast freestanding tub there, local pine sauna, marbled bathrooms with custom-made furniture by Antonio Lupi gives you an indication of the attention to detail while individual room names reference the past. Local legends such as Lord of Neuhaus, Oswald von Wolkenstein and Mrs Anna Steinmann are the historical folk who graced these parts, the castle keeping their legacies alive.

The spacious castle has room enough for several different dining concepts with an emphasis on continuing the foodie legacy of the region’s landmark since 1750 with homemade classics, heritage recipes and local produce: alpine fish, meat from the sheep and cow herd plus locally grown fruit and veg from nearby suppliers.

The eight tables in the wood panelled parlour-stube creates a cosy atmospheric setting with a bygone feel, perfect for sun-ripened tomato consommé, canederli bread dumplings and homemade pasta. Outside on the terrace on sunny days, let sommeliers Sonja and Bastian keep your glass topped up with treasures unearthed from the six-metre-deep wine cellar before you contemplate dinner. Perhaps a five-course alpine menu, full of gastronomic delicacies from the valleys and mountains or a fine dining vegetarian menu? A soulful foodie experience awaits.

Clasped to the sunny slopes of Villandro, Ansitz Steinbock overlooks a patchwork of greens: vineyards, orchards, pine forests and wildflower valleys, presided over by the Dolomites – in reach are the peaks of the Val di Funes, the Sasso Putia and in the near distance ski region Alpe di Siusi - Europe’s largest alpine plateau.

A sunny, bountiful region, this is the heart South Tyrol, where cobbled villages are tucked around fertile landscapes and locals and visitors alike hike and ski the mountain panoramas. Not far is the artists enclave of Klausen, made famous by Albrecht Dürer’s engraving Das große Glück which features the town. Bressanone and its cathedral which dates back to 960 is a 20-minute drive away,  the capital of South Tyrol Bolzano is just under 20 miles where you’ll find museums, churches and medieval castles.