Granvara Relais & Spa Hotel

In the summer, the hotel is surrounded by lush gardens and scattered with flowers and shrubs, and blankets of thick powdery snow transform the landscape during the winter months. The Granvara, which means "great wide field" in the Dolomite language of Ladin, is set atop a 25-acre plateau surrounded by extensive gardens. It has a prime 360-degree view over the South Tyrol Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hotel itself is a grand, chalet-style property spread over two alpine-style, interconnected buildings, both with gently sloping roofs, gray-stone walls, and wooden balconies. Inside, efforts have been made to create a luxurious finish, with polished marble columns, chandeliers, and a large wooden reception desk. Hallways, however, are on the plain side, despite wrought-iron banisters and the the occasional antique piece. The hotel's "Relais du Silence" philosophy puts a real emphasis on maintaining an air of peace and tranquility for guests throughout their stay.

The hotel is located in a superb setting with panoramic views of the northeast Italy's South Tyrol Dolomites and the Sassolungo mountain range. The Hotel Granvara is a three-minute drive from Selva Gardena town center and is directly connected to the Val Gardena ski range, just a few minutes from the lifts. The nearest railway station is in Bolzano, a one-hour drive, from where you can catch public buses that connect all the valleys, while the nearest airport is Dolomiti, a few minutes' drive past Bolzano.

Rooms are simply decorated, some in a fresh, modern style and others in a more traditional fashion, though all employ rich reds and a heavy use of Swiss stone pine, which is believed to promote sleep quality and relaxation. All rooms include seating areas and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, as well as contemporary bathrooms with heated towel racks, tubs, and high-quality toiletries. Suites really ramp up the extras with whirlpool tubs and TVs in the bathroom mirrors, and most rooms open to furnished balconies with stunning views. Deluxe and Family Suites were refurbished in late 2016 and have a contemporary look.

The hotel's health facilities are impressive, with both a heated indoor pool and an outdoor pool with features including individual hydro-massage jets, bubbling air benches, and counter-current systems, all fed from the hotel’s own Dolomite spring. The spa also offers a sauna, a Roman-style steam bath, and a range of treatments and massages. The Granvara's traditionally styled restaurant serves an extensive breakfast buffet each morning and an evening menu of locally inspired dishes; rates are half-board. A minimum stay of four nights is typically required in the summer, eight nights in winter; shorter stays are possible but incur an extra fee. Wi-Fi is available for a one-off fee, and there is private parking on-site. The hotel also places an emphasis on sustainability, making extensive use of solar power for both heating and refrigeration.