Sustainable construction methods have been used throughout, with local architects Hugo & Hanspeter Demetz working alongside Rudi Perathoner from Selva to create a bijou 30-bedroom hotel.
ITALY – Adler Mountain Lodge opened yesterday in the heart of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the first pictures reveal a new holiday destination of unparalleled natural beauty and uncomplicated luxury.
It’s taken more than 10 years to come to fruition, but it certainly looks like it’s been worth the wait. Located high up in the mountains, at a height of 1,800m, in the heart of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognised for its outstanding natural beauty, there have been various building obstacles and planning battles to overcome, but now Adler Mountain Lodge is finally ready to welcome its first guests.
The Sanoner family, owners of Adler Resorts, bought what was then the Hotel Mezdi in 1999. Dating to 1938, the Hotel Mezdi was built three years after one of the Dolomites’ first cable cars carried its first visitors from the mountain resort of Ortisei up to Alpe di Siusi. The Hotel Mezdi’s location, just below Col da Mezdi (Midday Peak) and in the middle of the piste, within walking distance of the lift station, was idyllic and guests were soon flocking to stay in both winter and summer, won over by the tranquil location and magnificent views.
The Sanoner family pulled down the Hotel Mezdi, which had fallen into a state of disrepair, and have replaced it with a central wooden lodge and an arc of 12 small chalets, modelled on old Tyrolean mountain huts, so that they blend in with the unique scenery of the Alpe di Siusi, an unspoiled natural setting of wide open rolling mountain pasture and unparalleled panoramas.
Sustainable construction methods have been used throughout, with local architects Hugo & Hanspeter Demetz working alongside Rudi Perathoner from Selva to create a bijou 30-bedroom hotel. The interior and exterior have been made entirely of natural mountain wood from the region, each plank planed by hand by a craftsman from Val Gardena. In addition, because wood carving is something of a speciality locally, beautifully detailed eagles and dragons look down from the roof timbers to watch over guests.
The main lodge houses the reception, a cavernous lounge with open fireplace, spacious sun terrace, restaurant, wellness and spa facilities, infinity pool and 18 guest suites, all with far-reaching views of the Dolomites. Behind the main building, higher up the slope so they too enjoy uninterrupted vistas, stand 12 two-storey guest chalets.
The aim of Adler Mountain Lodge is to offer guests an unparalleled opportunity to holiday in the midst of unspoilt nature. Somewhere that guests have time to spare, where daily routines are forgotten, pressures disappear and tranquillity emanates from the landscape, to be absorbed by every pore in the body. A place where, after a hearty breakfast of local specialities, the day can be spent exploring nature, whether on skis in winter or on foot in summer, while filling lungs with oodles of the freshest air, returning only to the hotel terrace in the evening to admire the magical light on the mountains, while nursing a good glass of Italian wine.
The 12 south-facing chalets are particularly special, having been entirely made of local spruce in order to give them an authentic mountain feel. Draw back the curtains in the morning and admire the majestic mountains from the cosy warmth of your bed, before heading to the bathroom where throwing open the window reveals a meadow view and, in summer, the sweet scent of flowers. Step out onto the private balcony to breathe in the pristine air and let the morning sunshine warm your soul. In the evening, guests can watch the setting sun from their own terrace or relax in their own private sauna before snuggling up in front of the flickering flames of the fireplace in their own sitting room.
This is yet another hotel at which, as Adler Resorts like to say, you can “let your soul fly”.
Photo caption: Interiors of the chalets at Adler Mountain Lodge.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
