Castel Badia — Dolomites, Italy
Of all the smart new hotels that have recently opened in the Dolomites, Castel Badia—set in a manor house that dates back to the year 1000—is at the top of the pile. The hotel, an Alpine counterpart to Puglia’s Borgo Egnazia, was created by Ian Schrager’s protégé Aldo Melpignano, who brings a new sense of cool to high-end Italian hospitality. The building has served as a courthouse, a convent, a private castle, and, since the 1970s, a hotel. A recent renovation saved everything that could be saved: The floors, wood ceilings, stuccoed vaults, and frescoes remain. A painting of an abbess gazes down from the wall of the show kitchen at the casual, traditional Stube, where chef Andrea Ribaldone prepares dishes like grilled pumpkin served with truffles and olive oil; he will also open a fine-dining restaurant in the coming year. Silence reigns in this ancient castle, where life, as it did in the Middle Ages, revolves around the courtyard. Through that nexus you access the garden, swimming pool, guest rooms (there are 28 in total, along with a three-story chalet), basement spa with frescoed relaxation rooms overlooking the mountains, and crypt of San Lorenzo, a protected site that, like the rest of the castle, is open to the public. This remains a sacred place, even as guests enjoy its sybaritic offerings. From $638. —Sara Magro
