In the clear

Alpine, Italian, and surprisingly modern: South Tyrol combines la dolce vita with a distinctive flair, demonstrating just how bold, stylish, and naturally sustainable luxury, world-class design, and heavenly indulgence can be today.

HOTELS

Eco-friendly, elegant, unique

With its abundance of glass, local larch wood, and a dreamy, panoramic location in the forests above Bolzano, 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 Qi Gong, as well as Wabi-Sabi-style rooms. Energy comes from biomass, plastic is largely avoided, and meals feature fresh ingredients from local producers.

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


About 70 km further northeast, the Forestis,situated at an altitude of 1,800 meters, focuses on green glamour and mindful minimalism. The architecture features Dolomite stone, spruce, and glass; the water comes from its own spring; and the spa also draws inspiration from the alpine surroundings: treatments using 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 that 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 photovoltaic system on the roof to the chemical-free infinity pool. From there, by the way, guests can gaze over the family’s own vineyards, while during dinner on the terrace, the lights of Merano twinkle in the valley below. On the opposite side of the spa town, Theiner’s Gartenpresents itself 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 rooms, and natural cosmetics elevate the spa treatments. The team proudly notes that the property is not merely climate-neutral but “climate-positive”—meaning it offsets twice as much CO₂ as it emits. Then there is theLeitlhofin San Candido—one of Europe’s few energy-self-sufficient hotels, complete with its own wood-fired cogeneration plant, an organic farm with herb and vegetable gardens, and even 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-freeSouth

Tyrol’s gastronomic 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, Alpine pork cutlet with kimchi, apricots, and mustard seeds as the main course, and rhubarb granité 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 instance, by pairing forest-fresh mushrooms with bright citrus notes.


MAJESTICIn a former factory owner’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 am Brenner, also 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 come 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 stylish

Admittedly, the next winter season is still some time off. But if you’d like to start thinking about a new ski outfit anyway, you’re in good hands atONEMORE. The looks by Helga Lazzarino from Neumarkt in the South Tyrolean Unterland are not only chic but 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 article on South Tyrol would be complete without mentioning Norbert Niederkofler. Rather than extolling his culinary prowess once more, however, we prefer to present ECOALF X Norbert Niederkofler, an exciting collaboration between the Spanish fashion brand—renowned for its rigorous environmental and social standards—and the exceptional chef, who has been awarded three Michelin stars. “There is no Planet B” is the motto of the collection with which Niederkofler had the entire team at his AlpiNN restaurant on Kronplatz outfitted.

CUISINE & COUTUREExceptional chef Norbert Niederkofler collaborates with the fashion label Ecoalf.FLOTTE FRÜCHTCHENHelga Lazzarino creates skiwear from apple scraps.

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


ANIMAL-FRIENDLY

The Red Rooster

More than merely a “farm stay”: The Roter Hahninitiative was founded in 1998 by the South Tyrolean Farmers’ Association and today counts approximately 1,600 small, rural, family-run farms among its members. Their collective objective is to showcase the quality of farm-fresh produce, to strengthen regional value creation, and to unite tradition with contemporary sustainability. Whether it’s 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 be produced there. The same standard applies 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 woven from birch or larch branches by Oberhof farmer Erhard Paris. Our tip: Allow at least a full day to wander through South Tyrol in the footsteps of the Red Rooster and discover the region’s most exquisite farms. Alternatively, reserve a Red Rooster cooking class and learn how to prepare fish from local streams and ponds “nose to tail,” or how to transform “weeds” from blooming alpine meadows 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 experience authentic South Tyrolean rurality.

_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 still recall, from childhood, stringing garlands from vibrant autumn leaves and crafting forest animals with glue? Jasmin Castagnaro takes this childhood charm a step 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 resilient 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 keepsake that promises genuine, luminous delight.

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



www.miyuca.it


BEAUTY

Quite Green“

Nature is the world’s most intelligent high-tech laboratory,” asserts Erb. Dipl. Dr. Joseph Franz with conviction—and has done so since 1986, the year TEAM DR JOSEPHwas founded. How did the world’s “first high-tech natural cosmetics” come about? As is often the case, chance—and a tragic twist of fate—played a role: after a serious sports accident, the then-professional ice hockey player Joseph Franz embarked on a quest for natural remedies and undertook training as a naturopath and in nutrition. This was followed by his own natural foods store in Brunico, where he also sold shampoos and creams he had developed himself. The rest is a unique success story made in South Tyrol, where the family-run company’s headquarters and production facilities are still located today. Bestsellers like the “Joint Relief Balm” with local juniper are also available worldwide in concept stores and perfumeries. The legendary “Rejuvenation Face Treatment” with “Golden Glow Body Oil,” along with numerous other signature rituals featuring edelweiss, conifers, and more, are now offered 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