Why The Dolomites Are On Top Of The World Right Now

There’s a buzz happening in the Italian mountains, with a slew of new openings and hotel updates putting The Dolomites firmly in the spotlight.

Firstly, making it easier than ever to reach the UNESCO-protected peaks found in north-eastern Italy, is SkyAlps’ new direct flight route from London Gatwick to Bolzano.

The Italian airline first launched its new London-Bolzano route for winter 2023/24 in December. This year, it is now flying from London Gatwick for its first summer season. The new London Gatwick—Bolzano route runs twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The airline operates using the quiet De Havilland Dash Q400 aircraft, which seats 76 passengers and offers one of the greenest passenger eco-footprints. The aircraft is a fast turboprop-powered plane that can complete short journeys almost as quickly as a regional turbojet, but with lower CO2 emissions. Served onboard are South Tyrolean wines and local treats. Travelers can experience a closer look at the Dolomites with no middle seats. skyalps.com

Arguably, the biggest news from the region, however, is the Aman takeover of the much-loved Rosa Alpina hotel, which first welcomed guests to the village of San Cassiano in 1939. Celebrating the history of the property while uniting it with Aman’s slick philosophy, the hotel is currently closed while it undergoes an extensive refurbishment to usher in a new era, as a fully-fledged Aman property, reopening for the 2024/25 winter season.

The refurbishment of Rosa Alpina is being overseen by long-time Aman collaborator Jean-Michel Gathy of Denniston Architects, who most recently masterminded the transformation of the Crown Building to become Aman New York. The redesign will include a complete remodelling of all guestrooms. With an emphasis on space, the current 52 rooms and suites will be reduced to 50, each varying in size and layout. Two 150-square-metre Presidential Suites will form the most spacious room category, alongside the existing 280-square-metre Chalet Zeno, a private refuge accommodating up to six guests.

Gastronomy will draw upon the hotel’s culinary heritage, providing a variety of options, from informal alfresco fondues to fine dining and multi-course feasts. The wellness offering will be extended to almost double the original size and reconfigured to incorporate an outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi, as well as a curated treatment menu to complement the new facilities. Families will be catered to with a specially designed activity centre offering experiences for all ages.

As the hotel embarks on its next chapter, the Pizzinini family will remain at the helm having presided over Rosa Alpina for three generations. “The Aman brand will allow us to share the magic of the Dolomites with an even wider audience while staying true to our Ladin roots,” say Hugo and Ursula Pizzinini. “We’ll continue to celebrate the local culture and traditions that have shaped this place for generations. The Dolomites are poised for a global moment with the upcoming Winter Olympics, and we’re excited to be part of it, all while staying true to the spirit that makes this region so special. We will also continue to promote the Dolomites for all seasons, not just winter. Our mountains and villages are an open-air playground for all ages and interests, whether our guests are looking for adventure, wellness, culture or foodie experiences.” aman.com

While the region is readying itself to host the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina in 2026, closer still is the Sounds of the Dolomites Festival, taking place this summer (29 August—29 September 2024). Now in its 29^th year, it was conceived with the goal of conveying the spirit and beauty of the Dolomites.

The festival is unique in that takes place at a variety of locations in the mountains, which are only accessible on foot. Consisting of 18 events across the month, it includes a lineup of musicians, including Portuguese Carminho, known for collaborating on the soundtrack of the Oscar-nominated Poor Things and being one of her generation’s most talented fado singers (a traditional Porguguese musical genre). Other acts include the The Cellos of the Mozarteum, a group of young and established musicians guided and directed by Giovanni Gnocci; the group are set to take to the stage on 31 August in the stunning area of Val di Fiemme, which is known for its awe-inspiring views greenery.

One of the programmatic cornerstones is accessibility. Four of the concerts will be made accessible for people with motor and hearing disabilities. This is thanks to the use of inclusive vehicles and bikes and Subpac audio-tactile systems made available by Re-Moove, a Trentino company specialising in inclusive mobility. visittrentino.info/isuonidelledolomiti

Meanwhile, following the completion of five-year revamp, Hotel Granbaita Dolomites is set to relaunch on 12 July 2024. Located in the heart of Selva di Val Gardena, it has been owned by the Puntscher-Perathoner family for over 60 years, having first opened its doors in 1961.

The new look features updated interiors and renovated garden rooms, with the use of natural materials and a rich colour palette. A highlight is the 2,000sqm Savinela Spa, which offers saunas, an indoor-outdoor swimming pool and traditional South Tyrolean spa treatments.

When it comes to Alpine wellness experiences, Dolce Vita Hotels— a collection of four family-run wellness retreats in South Tyrol—offers an inclusive hotel-hopping concept. When you book one Dolce Vita Hotel, you can enjoy all four boltholes, free of charge—whether it is a gourmet meal at one or a fitness class at another.

The hotels, ALPIANA, Preidlhof, Lindenhof and Feldhof, are all within walking distance of each other and have a combined 38 pools, 32 saunas and five SkySpas, with transformative treatments and award-winning therapists on hand. This October, the properties will host their sauna retreat—the ‘Sauna Around Week’—with five days of sauna infusions, shows and performances taking place across all four hotels led by international sauna world champions. dolcevitahotels.com

Meanwhile, ensuring you get an immersive take on the mountainside, the adults-only wellness hotel, Sensoria Dolomites, is offering a new hiking retreat on 1— 8 September 2024.

Located at the foot of the Alpe di Siusi, the largest high plateau in Europe, the alpine escape will welcome walking enthusiasts for a seven-night retreat, featuring four hikes through the landscapes of the UNESCO World Heritage site: from scaling the Schlern to embracing panoramic views from the Peitlerkofel Mountain. The retreat was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park, located in the Dolomite region of the Seiser Alm. It was the first nature park in South Tyrol to be placed under protection in 1974, making it a natural paradise for mountain-lovers.