Forestis Dolomites
Tucked away up a corkscrew mountain road in an absurdly beautiful South Tyrolean valley, Forestis is an eco-friendly wellness retreat offering adults (only) a front-row seat to one of the most breathtaking views in the Dolomites.
The main building – once used as a retreat from the Vatican for popes during summer – houses the lobby, restaurant and bar, above which rise towers that host the fitness centre, the rooftop bar (one of the highest in the world) and the glorious Tower Suite, whose floor-to-ceiling windows offer direct views of the snaggletooth Dolomite peaks. More impressive still is the two-storey Penthouse, complete with open fireplace, private outdoor pool and spruce wood sauna.
The tasting menu at the exceptional on-site restaurant changes nightly, with an emphasis on seasonal, local produce. Activities range from skiing and snowshoeing in winter to hiking and forest bathing in summer. And then there’s the spa – light-filled and spacious, with a stone spiral staircase in the shape of a fossil leading to treatment rooms with vast picture windows that stare out at the Dolomites. Treatments are inspired by the Celts who once roamed the forests outside. There are all kinds of saunas, dedicated rooms for silence and wyda (think Celtic yoga), plus an indoor/outdoor pool that’s as inviting in winter as it is at the height of summer.
