The warm embrace of a heavenly world

Situated in Lutago, in the heart of the Parco Naturale Vedrette di Ries-Valle Aurina, the Alpin & SPA Resort Hotel Schwarzenstein offers a unique blend of refined elegance and family atmosphere. Since its takeover in 1985 by Otmar and Michael Zimmerhofer, the hotel has undergone several upgrades. The most recent of these, completed in 2014, was so extensive that the hotel had to close temporarily. It’s no coincidence that the execution of the raw structural work was all condensed into just 30 days, so as to free up more time for the finishing. The lobby was re-designed and extended towards the courtyard with a light-filled ante-volume made of steel and glass. A modern re-interpretation of the historic, centrally disposed, domestic fireplace underscores the idea of hospitality around which the entire Schwarzenstein revolves, and welcomes guests with a high-tech « fire ». Bunches of cylindrical, ceiling-mounted luminaires provide the artificial lighting, and the floors are tiled with stone-effect porcelain. Two garages have been built, one beneath the lobby and the other nearby, in addition to 30 comfortable rooms in a new, three-storey building to the east of the main structure. The flat roof of the former has been planted with grass and serves as a sunbathing area. The Park Residence, meanwhile, has been totally remodelled with a new roof, new interiors and new wooden protection systems for the balconies. The Nature Spa, a 5000m2 wellness area that puts the Schwarzenstein firmly at the top of the league of wellness hotels in the South Tyrol, has been revolutionised. The existing pool with hydromassage has been complemented with a second swimming pool of more athletic intent, made of steel and offering 25m of outdoor space plus a further 10m indoors. Both are open all the year round and heated to a temperature of 29-31°C. Four new saunas have been added – the Biosauna for family use in the swimming area, the saline steam sauna, the infra-red cabin and the organic Swiss pine sauna – on the ground floor of a purpose-built structure near the annex. The complex now also includes four additional « oases of peace ». These deliberately evocative areas are designed to offer guests different styles of relaxation to suit their mood, and provide appropriate settings in which to reflect on the Alpine scenery in the panoramic quiet room, or thrill to the emotions elicited by the four primordial elements in the « Fire » lounge, the tree-sheltered « Earth » island, the « Water » sun lodge and the honeycomb-structured « Air » wing. Two new cabins have been installed in the Beauty Vital Centre, where guests can enjoy a range of over 100 Spa treatments. The number of outdoor hydromassage tubs has risen to four, while the gardens and natural lake have been re-finished, making the latter suitable for swimming. Most of the floor and wall coverings of the wellness areas, bathrooms and communal areas feature Bioarch large-format porcelain tile by Ceramica Panaria, in a « Barge Gialla » colour.