Vigilius Mountain Resort: By Cable Car To The Hotel
The Vigilius Resort in South Tyrol has a lot to offer. Not only that a time-out in the green is in vogue at the latest since the forester and nature lover Peter Wohlleben launched his book “Forest without guardians” in 2007. Strolling along spruces, larches and pines has been proven to reduce stress levels and clear the mind.
The 5-star Hotel Vigilius Mountain Resort in South Tyrol is all about this sustainable lifestyle. From the pretty village of Lana near Merano, the cable car takes you up to the idyllic Vigiljoch, where the sustainable, green hotel is perched at a lofty 1,500 meters above sea level. The motto there: less is more.
Guests can expect birdsong, mountain panoramas and wonderful peace and quiet – cars are only allowed to drive in the evening and only to a limited extent. A refuge above the clouds that stands for deceleration with heart. Because the spirit among the staff is familiar, the contact with the guests friendly.
Aperitivo on the piazza
In the evening, before dinner, guests meet for the obligatory Italian aperitivo in the Piazza, an elegant and cozy lounge area with the character of a living room and access to one of the hotel’s three panoramic terraces. Aperol Spritz, sparkling wine, non-alcoholic cocktails and wines are offered along with finger food – free of charge: the unobstructed view of the magnificent silhouette of the Dolomites.
Right next door, in the library room with its ceiling-high shelves, the screen is regularly lowered to make all those guests happy with movie nights who are missing a TV in their room.
Fascinating architecture
At the Vigilius, nature plays the leading role. This is ensured by the unique architectural style of South Tyrolean star architect Matteo Thun. In 2003, he created the beautifully designed complex, which resembles a reclining tree, with 41 rooms and a chic spa area, where treatments such as the new 80-minute Signature Treatment with sheep’s wool followed by a full-body massage enhance the wonderful feeling of absolute relaxation.
The minimalist yet homey décor of the Klimahaus-A certified design hotel is also made entirely of renewable resources such as wood, stone, clay as well as glass. Small-figure women’s sculptures and red color accents are the only standouts in the timeless building, which is also fondly referred to as an “island in the mountains”.
Exquisite dining
Absolutely worth mentioning: The creatively arranged food at Vigilius immediately catches your eye. Particularly noteworthy is the fine selection of homemade, refined spreads at the breakfast buffet – from lilac jelly to pistachio cream and lavender jam! Chef Filippo Zoncato emphasizes organic quality, regionality and seasonality – and modern interpretations – in line with the hotel philosophy in the “1500” restaurant. Another appealing feature is the choice of three menus every evening (“Creative,” “Vita” and “At Home”), from which you can put together your own personal multi-course menu.
And afterwards? Play a round of bocce on the hotel’s outdoor bowling alley, have a nightcap on the piazza, or simply sit and count the stars in the night sky. This Vigilius is fantastically beautiful!
Photos: Patricia Parineja, Florian Andergassen, Mike Badstübner
CultureAndCream Author from Munich
To travel during my profession as a beauty journalist was never enough for my. Also my six month on a world trip didn’t do it. It always attracts me to other cities, foreign countries, on roadtrips and places I don’t know yet. But I am not only interested in “culture” and “cream”, I am also fascinated by people who have stories to tell . Such unique experiences I want to share with you.
