Within the verdant enclave

Alpine, Italian, and surprisingly modern: South Tyrol combines la dolce vita with a sense of style, demonstrating just how bold, elegant, and—of course—sustainable luxury, world-class design, and heavenly indulgence can be today.

HOTELS

Eco-friendly, elegant, unique

With plenty of glass, local larch wood, and a dreamy location in the woods above Bolzano offering stunning views, theSaltusmakes the boundaries between indoors and outdoors seem to disappear. Founded in the 1950s, it is now run by sisters Claudia and Nadja and their mother, Hedwig Gamper. The mountain retreat features an infinity pool among the treetops and a Forest Spa with a hay sauna. Guests can enjoy yoga, Pilates and qigong, as well as Wabi-Sabi-style rooms. The property runs on biomass energy, plastic is largely avoided, and meals feature fresh ingredients from local producers.

SERVUS IM SALTUSWhere you can go swimming 1,000 m above sea level …SUITE DREAMING AT FORESTISwith a view of the surrounding mountain giants


About 70 km further to the northeast, Forestis—situated at an elevation of 1,800 meters—focuses on “Green Glam” and mindful minimalism. The architecture features Dolomite stone, spruce, and glass; the water comes from its own spring; and even the spa draws inspiration from the Alpine surroundings: treatments featuring spruce, mountain pine, alpine herbs, or regional rock oil are part of a concept that is as holistic as it is sustainable. TheNiedermair Alpine Retreatin Partschins demonstrates how green thinking and action in South Tyrol are often passed down from generation to generation. Following extensive renovations and a spectacular style upgrade, the junior manager took over last year—and he is consistently committed to sustainability in all areas, from the rooftop solar panel system to the chemical-free infinity pool. From there, by the way, guests can gaze down over the family-owned vineyards, while during dinner on the terrace, the lights of Merano twinkle in the valley below. On the other side of the spa town, Theiner’s Gartenstands out as a true sustainability pioneer, rightly earning the nickname “Biorefugium.” From breakfast to the wine list, nearly everything here comes from certified organic farming. Natural materials define the guest rooms, and natural cosmetics enhance the spa treatments. The hotel proudly notes that it is not merely climate-neutral but “climate-positive,” offsetting twice as much CO₂ as it emits. Finally, theLeitlhofin Innichen stands as one of Europe’s rare energy-self-sufficient hotels, relying on its own wood-fired combined heat and power plant and an organic farm complete with herb and vegetable gardens and an Angus cattle herd—because in South Tyrol, being green and having good taste go hand in hand.


LIFESTYLE À LA LEITLHOFDolce Vita by the pool and relaxing moments in the panoramic sauna included
www.hotel-saltus.itwww.forestis.it www.hotel-niedermair.com

www.theinersgarten.itwww.leitlhof.it



CUISINE

Sinfully delicious, yet entirely guilt-free.

South Tyrol’s culinary scene is widely regarded as one of Europe’s most exhilarating and sustainable. The Michelin Guide recognises this commitment with no fewer than five green stars shining over the region. One of them belongs toAtelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler, where the exceptional chef of the same name celebrates his “Cook the Mountain” philosophy in the stately ambience of a former cloth manufacturer’s villa. Fancy a little taste? How about a spruce shoot tartlet as an amuse-bouche, an Alpine pork cutlet with kimchi, apricots, and mustard seeds as the main course, and a rhubarb granita with buckwheat crumble to round off a 13-course culinary journey through the mountains? Equally inspiring, yet utterly distinct, is South Tyrol’s highest-altitude two-star establishment, Terra – The Magic Placein the Sarntal Valley. There, Chef Heinrich Schneider gathers fresh herbs each morning for dishes that resemble miniature landscape paintings and redefine Alpine flavours—for example, by pairing forest-fresh mushrooms with bright citrus notes.


MAJESTICIn a former industrialist’s villa, Norbert Niederkofler celebrates 3-star cuisine.LIKE A PAINTINGThe creations at Terra – The Magic Place resemble small landscape paintings_MEDIACOMPOSE_[{"":"241664"},{"":"241665"},{"":"241666"},{"":"241667"},{"":"241668"},{"":"241669"},{"":"241670"},{"":"241671"},{"":"241672"},{"":"241673"},{"":"241674"},{"":"241675"},{"":"241676"},{"":"241677"},{"":"241678"},{"1":"241679"},{"":"241680"},{"":"241681"},{"2":"241682"},{"":"241683"},{"type":"3"}]_MEDIACOMPOSE_The gourmet restaurant Artifexat Hotel Feuerstein on the Brenner Pass—which has also been awarded a green star—takes this a step further, serving classic South Tyrolean ingredients such as beetroot terrine or smoked char with juniper and alpine grass espuma. A breath of fresh air will also be coming from Eppan in 2026: Pramol Altowas named “Newcomer of the Year” by Gault&Millau. The team led by Ethel Hoon, Jakob Zeller, Julia Heifer, and sommelier Core Kurtenbach combines Alpine ingredients with Mediterranean accents—from grilled chicken with pickled gooseberries to herb churros and uniquely exquisite interpretations of lamb. This laid-back mountain retreat, nestled among the vineyards, also proves that South Tyrol is not only sustainable but also full of surprises and personality.


SOPHISTICATED DESIGN MEETS SOPHISTICATED WINESin the Artifex wine cellar''' www.ateliernorbertniederkofler.com

[www.terra.place] (https://www.terra.place/de/) [www.feuerstein.info] (https://www.feuerstein.info/de)

www.pramol-restaurant.it


FASHION

Sustainably

Sty

lish

Admittedly, the next winter season is still a little ways off. But if you’d like to start thinking about a new ski outfit anyway, you’re in good hands atONEMORE. The designs by Helga Lazzarino from Neumarkt in South Tyrol’s Unterland region aren’t just chic—they’re also very sustainable. In addition to down-like padding made from recycled PET bottles, ONEMORE primarily uses “Appleskin,” a patented synthetic leather produced from the waste of South Tyrolean apple farmers.
No contemporary feature on South Tyrol feels complete without mentioning Norbert Niederkofler. Rather than simply echoing the well-deserved praise for his culinary virtuosity, however, we prefer to spotlight ECOALF X Norbert Niederkofler—an inspiring collaboration between the Spanish fashion house, renowned for its rigorous environmental and social standards, and the three-Michelin-starred chef. ‘There is no Planet B’ is the motto of the collection with which Niederkofler has outfitted his entire team at AlpiNN restaurant on Kronplatz.

CUISINE & COUTUREExceptional chef Norbert Niederkofler collaborates with the fashion label Ecoalf.CHIC FRUITSHelga Lazzarino crafts skiwear from apple scraps.


www.one-more.inf www.ecoalf.com


EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD

The Red Rooster

More than merely a “farm vacation”: Established in 1998 by the South Tyrolean Farmers’ Association, theRoter Hahninitiative now unites approximately 1,600 small, rural, family-run farms. Their collective ambition is to showcase the distinction of farm-fresh produce, fortify regional value creation, and harmoniously blend tradition with contemporary sustainability. Whether it is beechwood-smoked bacon, hay-milk cheese aged for months in the cellar, or juices and brandies pressed from heirloom fruit varieties, products bearing the Red Rooster label must consist of at least 75 percent ingredients from the farm itself and must also be produced there. This standard applies not only to culinary offerings but also to handicrafts. Particularly noteworthy are the hand-turned bowls and sculptures fashioned at Lahngut from apple, cherry, and walnut wood, as well as the delicate objects meticulously woven from birch or larch twigs by Oberhof farmer Erhard Paris. Our tip: Allocate at least one day to wander through South Tyrol in the footsteps of the Roter Hahn and uncover the region’s most exquisite farms. Alternatively, reserve a “Roter Hahn” cooking class and learn how fish from nearby streams and ponds can be prepared “nose to tail,” or how “weeds” from blooming alpine meadows can be transformed into exquisite soups and sauces.

BEST OF THE FARMWhether at a picnic in the vineyards or in the Lahngut woodworking shop: At Rote Hahn farms, you will experience rural South Tyrol at its mostauthentic.

_MEDIACOMPOSE_{"":"241664"},{"":"241665"},{"":"241666"},{"1":"241667"},{"":"241668"},{"":"241669"},{"":"241670"},{"":"241671"},{"":"241672"},{"":"241673"},{"":"241674"},{"":"241675"},{"":"241676"},{"2":"241677"},{"":"241678"},{"1":"241679"},{"":"241680"},{"":"241681"},{"2":"241682"},{"":"241683"},{"type":"2"}]_MEDIACOMPOSE_''' [www.roterhahn.it


ILLUMINATING

ARTISANRY

Light

Art from Leaves

Do you recall, as a child, stringing garlands from vibrant autumn leaves and crafting forest creatures with glue and imagination? Jasmin Castagnaro takes this notion further with her labelMiyuca, crafting beautiful lamps, trays, and wall panels from the colorful leaves—first sorted by hue, then shredded, and finally transformed into a firm material thanks to a closely guarded recipe. Should you wish, you may even supply the Brixen-based designer with your “favorite leaves”—an inspired notion for a singular South Tyrolean souvenir that promises genuine, luminous delight.

LEAF BY LEAFJasmin Castagnaro’s lamps are crafted from fall leaves.



www.miyuca.it


BEAUTY

Pretty Green“

Nature is the world’s most intelligent high-tech laboratory,” asserts Erb. Dipl. Dr. Joseph Franz with conviction—and he’s believed this since 1986, the year TEAM DR JOSEPHwas founded. How did the world’s “first high-tech natural cosmetics” come about? As so often happens, it was a fortuitous yet tragic turn of events: After a serious sports accident, Joseph Franz, then a professional ice-hockey player, embarked on a quest for natural remedies and trained as a naturopath and nutrition specialist. This eventually led him to open his own natural foods store in Bruneck, where he also offered shampoos and creams of his own formulation. The remainder is a singular success story “made in South Tyrol,” and the family-run enterprise still maintains its headquarters and production facilities in the region. Bestsellers such as the “Joint Relief Balm” with local juniper are carried in concept stores and perfumeries worldwide. The legendary “Rejuvenation Face Treatment” with “Golden Glow Body Oil,” along with numerous other signature rituals featuring edelweiss, conifers, and other natural elements, is now administered in select hotel spas from Denmark to South Africa and from Spain to Hong Kong.

NOMEN EST OMENThe entire family of the company’s founder contributes to the DR Joseph team.
www.teamdrjoseph.com