Relaxing RETREATS

From Mallorca to Mexico, a new crop of design-led hotels are their opening doors

BY CHRISTINA OHLY EVANS

While travel can feel hectic—not to mention expensive—these days, adventures and relaxing escapes are in higher demand than ever. From design-led properties with a focus on wellness to sumptuous estates in remote winemaking regions, there are offerings for every age and interest. Whether you’re looking for an art-filled escape or an adrenaline-charged break, the time is now to book a summer holiday to remember.

Amalfi Coasting;

LE SIRENUSE MARE

A beach club extraordinaire is the latest stylish addition to the Italian Riviera

After many years in the making, Le Sirenuse Mare—a beach club by the storied Le Sirenuse hotel in Positano—is finally making its grand debut this summer season. Perched on the sea in the tiny, slightly inaccessible town of Nerano (best to go by boat on one of the hotel’s boats, or from a tender)—the breezy beach club and restaurant and bar will surely be the place to see and be seen, with a signa- ture Golden Hour cocktail in hand.

Co-owners Carla and Antonio Sersale are second-gen- eration hoteliers who, with their two sons, run the Positano property, oversee the family’s extensive art program and the Emporio Sirenuse lifestyle brand (the ceramics are exquisite) and run multiple bars and restaurants that are always in demand. The Sersale family’s high-touch approach to hospitality has been a winning formula for 75 years, and the only thing missing was a beach club. That problem has been solved with the addition of Le Sirenuse Mare, a 27,000-square-foot property complete with a 180-person breezy restaurant, two stylish bars and a new Emporio Sirenuse boutique. A wide pebble beach with two jetties welcomes guests to linger—preferably on one of the club’s discreetly chic sun beds under a brightly colored can- vas umbrella.

Visitors are spoiled for choice across the club’s three sea-facing levels, from Rose’s Bar—so named for British artist Rose Wylie, whose “Pineapple” sculpture graces the beach bar setting—to the stunning main restaurant with its pergolas made of local chestnut and bamboo bound with fishing twine. The food, including the area’s cele- brated spaghetti alla Nerano with zucchini and provolone and blocks of housemade mozzarella, is served on the new Ànemos ceramic service which is fired by hand in the nearby town of Vietri and is available for purchase in the curated shop.

Much like at Le Sirenuse in Positano, contemporary art and artisanship play starring roles at the beach club. From a striking white clay fountain by Rome-based sculptor Giuseppe Ducrot that dominates the upper bar terrace to Mexican artist Bosco Sodi’s striated “Caryatides” sculpture to Alba Clemente’s playful painted tiles that pop up throughout the property, the club is an aesthete’s dream. While the focus is clearly on sun and the outdoors, the spaces by Architetti Artigiani Anonimi studio are sublime as well. Le Sirenuse Mare’s architect, Annarita Aversa, fuses art and design at every turn. The landscape is of the place, too, as envisioned by Italian landscape architect Paolo Pejrone, who has infused the area with fragrant orange blossom, jasmine and abundant citrus trees. From mid-morning to sunset, Le Sirenuse Mare promises to be the most coveted reservation—or chaise longue—on the Amalfi Coast, so you’ll want to book early to enjoy languor- ous la dolce vita days. Cin cin! sirenusemare.com

ORIENT EXPRESS VENEZIA

Opened to coincide with this year’s Venice Biennale, Orient Express Venezia brings the storied brand to the Cannaregio dis- trict in an exquisitely restored palazzo originally designed by Filippo Calendario. Blending neo-gothic and baroque ele- ments, and with interiors by Aline Asmar d’Amman, the 47-room property evokes both grandeur and intimacy, with ele- gantly frescoed salons, a dramatic octago- nal staircase and an opulent ballroom all adding to the feeling of a (very) luxurious private home stay. Dining spans a fine- dining restaurant, a leafy courtyard café and the signature Wagon Bar that captures the romance of the golden age of travel. orient-express.com

THE LAKE COMO EDITION

Set within a restored 19th-century palazzo overlooking the lake, The Lake Como Edition has expanded its wellness offering with the debut of The Longevity Spa this season. Developed in part- nership with The Longevity Suite, the spa introduces a scientific approach to wellbeing, blending biohacking technologies with holistic treatments such as the Iki-Sabi Ritual and personalized skin therapies using locally sourced ingredients. Multiple sau- nas, steam rooms, a Technogym-equipped fitness space and outdoor experiences like sunrise yoga and guided hikes make this a wellness destination rooted in both the traditional setting and next-gen innovative therapies. editionhotels.com

CASA J.K. PLACE ROMA

From hotelier Ori Kafri comes an exten- sion of the wildly popular J.K. Place Roma: the 12-apartment Casa J.K. Place Roma, which is set to open this summer. Set in a 17th-century palazzo in Via dei Prefetti, the exclusive club will be perfect for extended stays as well as guests in search of truly bespoke services. A dedicated con- cierge, butler, all-day restaurant and state- of-the-art gym will all be available—all just steps from the Piazza di Spagna and the Piazza Navona. jkplaces.com

LA TIARA DI CERVO, SARDINIA

Set high above Porto Cervo, La Tiara di Cervo introduces a more private, residential- style approach to the bustling Costa Smeralda. Set within a protected park, the Mediterranean estate offers 26 grand suites (available in one-, two- and three-bed- room configurations) designed for seamless indoor-outdoor living—each with a connected concierge and a private chef. Blending residential living with the comforts of a luxury hotel (including two infinity pools and a fitness center), the property offers a quieter, more intimate alternative to the region’s traditional glamour—but with the same stunning azure views. latiaradicervo.it

LA GIARDINA GUEST HOUSE, PIEDMONT

Opened this spring, La Giardina Guest House in off-the-beaten-track Turin offers an intimate, art-driven retreat in a restored 12th-century convent in the hills of Piedmont. With just four unique suites (each with its own theme), the boutique property emphasizes thoughtful design, warm hospitality and a deep sense of narrative. At its heart is the work of Italo-Canadian artist Bruno Billio, whose interdisciplinary creations shape the hotel’s identity by blending bold sculpture, installations and layered design into an atmospheric experience that’s rooted in family and creativity. lagiardina.com

Guest House

ARA MARIS HOTEL & SPA, SORRENTO

Perched high above the Gulf of Naples, Ara Maris Hotel & Spa intro- duces a fresh vision of Mediterranean luxury in the heart of Sorrento. As the destination’s only fully design-led contemporary boutique hotel—and its only adults-focused property—the 49-room retreat offers a serene escape defined by sleek architectural lines, destination- driven gastronomy and an immersive wellness program rooted in the landscape. Now entering its third season, Ara Maris blends modern elegance with a strong sense of place, offering a quiet retreat on the otherwise bustling peninsula. aramarishotel.com

European Idylls

Get packing for cultural—and sport-filled— adventures abroad in the New Year

BY CHRISTINA OHLY EVANS

These new (and, in some cases, improved) properties are just a few of the highlights that are drawing eager travelers abroad next year. From the historic streets of London to the snow-capped peaks of Megève, these are just a few of the hotels and destinations that are guaranteed to make for memorable adventures.

CORVARA, LA PERLA

Set in a picture-perfect Alpine valley surrounded by dra- matic peaks, this family-owned lodge is quintessentially South Tyrolean, but with stylish upgrades and amenities at every turn. For those interested in the Olympic men’s slalom and snowboarding events, this chic hotel offers the perfect blend of traditional Ladin style with new one- and two-bedroom suites that feature local textiles, intricately carved headboards and the owners’ collec- tions of everything from teacups to clocks to artworks that lend the spaces a home-away-from-home feel. The new Salus Per Aquam spa features treatments including saunas, Turkish baths, Kneipp, hydro massage, and an Alpine pine massage using local ingredients for post- piste relaxation. Gourmands will love the Michelin- starred La Stüa de Michil as well as the more casual Les Stües and chef Simone Cantafio’s exclusive Incö table in the private Weinstube. The surrounding Alta Badia resort offers more than 80 miles of slopes for skiers and snowboarders, making the old-world La Perla an ideal spot for area exploration. laperlacorvara.it

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO ANCORA CORTINA

Almost 200 years after its founding, this beloved land- mark hotel is once again a hub for social and cultural life on the bustling Corso Italia in the heart of Cortina. Under the management of Egnazia Ospitalità Italiana (the team behind Borgo Egnazia in Puglia), the 35 rooms and suites by noted designer Vicky Charles, for- mer head of design for Soho House, are at once both authentically Alpine and quietly luxurious. The 17 suites—including the Ancora Suite, with a terrace— feature panoramic views over the quaint town and the Dolomites beyond. Just in time for the Olympic Games (women’s downhill skiing will be held here), the Ancora will debut a fine-dining restaurant and cocktail bar, as well as a state-of-the-art gym and the Brave Club, a gathering spot for creatives, athletes and curious trav- elers alike. ancoracortina.com

BRIXEN, FORESTIS DOLOMITES

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Dolomites—a UNESCO World Heritage site—and surrounded by dense forest, Forestis is a serene sanctuary where the silence of nature, locally inspired cuisine, sublime spa treatments and ski-in, ski-out access are all celebrated. The proper- ty’s 62 exquisite rooms and suites sit at 6,000 feet, adja- cent to the Puez-Geisler Nature Park and above the village of Brixen. The South Tyrolean retreat highlights the pillars of nature: clear water, pure air, bountiful sun and a mild climate. A combination of old and new archi- tectural styles meld three design-led towers with the original listed wooden structure to create a compound with unobstructed views. Interiors are hewn from local spruce according to architect Armin Sader’s designs. Natural materials—including wool from Trentino —are found throughout suites in the historic house as well as in tower suites where guests may sleep under starry skies. Penthouse suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows, while the recently opened Forestis Villa—complete with its own spa, wine cellar, fitness room and indoor-outdoor pool— can accommodate up to 10 people. The main spa is the star of the show with two light-filled stories offering everything from brine steam baths to Finnish saunas and a Tea Lounge with Forestis blends. Heavily influenced by Celtic tradition (the Celts were early settlers here), Wyda is a yoga practice centered around energy and inner cen- tering, while a range of treatments are tailored to guests’ wishes. Hiking through pristine snowfields, skiing 28 miles of runs at the Ploste ski area and cooking classes using the bounties of the forest are all on offer. Of special note is the new Yera (“harvest” in Rhaetian Celtic language)—a fine-dining restaurant set in a mountain cave. A deep red earth space envelops diners, all of whom sit around a central firepit while savoring such delicious ingredients as nettles, wild berries and spruce shoots in cell phone–free splendor. forestis.it