A temple of roses at the foot of the Pale Mountains
Roses, and lots of them. The Silence & Schloßhotel Mirabell lies in the middle of a wonderful garden of roses with different colors and fragrances, and in this hotel, besides being used for wellness treatments, roses are also a main decoration theme. This shouldn’t be surprising, since Alpe di Siusi is famous for rose-growing, an activity favored by the ideal temperatures. So, if you choose hotel Mirabell for your holidays, one thing is for sure: you will get a very romantic welcome. When arriving to check-in, I was surrounded by a cosy atmosphere and immediately noticed the antique style furnishings. Antiques embellish the interiors, included the rooms, where every element speaks of traditions and antiquity. When I pulled back the curtains and went out on the balcony, I was mesmerized by the wonderful view. The high peaks of the Sciliar Massif enclose the landscape and help creating the peculiar atmosphere of peace and relaxation surrounding the hotel, which is in fact a member of the Relais du Silence, a group of hotels offering harmony and tranquility to their guests.
In the wellness center I tried a special body treatment: Rose Dream. Lying on a bed of quartz sand, it felt like being caressed by silk when the masseuse worked a rose scrub on my skin. Then she put a cool rose body wrap on me and, after a shower, massaged my back with a rose oil. The beauty treatment was so delicious it was difficult to leave at the end of it. I would have lied on that bed for hours, surrounded by soft light, sweet background music, delicate fragrances and soft colors. I chose not to go back to my room and decided for a barefoot walk in the garden instead. I reached the lake and lied down on the hammock, surrounded by the green: a sensation of pure relaxation, a perfect experience completed by some time spent in the swimming pool and some sessions in the sauna and in the steam bath.
At dinner I discovered that many of the products came from the vegetable garden of the hotel. The dishes were decorated with skill and taste by the chef using rose petals, the wines were excellent and the service impeccable. I enjoyed a pleasant awakening in the morning, pulling back the curtains and going out on the balcony. The view was breathtaking, with the snow covered peaks of the Sciliar right in front of my eyes. The air was crisp and clean, the only sound the song of birds. I had an abundant breakfast and tried an omelet made with eggs from the hotel; moreover, the jam and fruits were all locally produced.
After breakfast I went for a walk in the town center of Siusi, where I read the newspaper sitting at the table of a bar. I then took the gondola lift to Alpe di Siusi, at an altitude of 2,000 meters. This plateau is a wonderful oasis of peace and green, with many farms, cross-country skiing trails, trekking trails, a church, a fire station and a shop. I had lunch in one of the farms, then went back to the hotel to relax.
Hotel Mirabell is a top choice if you are looking for a holiday of relaxation. The location is also good for practicing trekking, skiing, Nordic walking and golf – the hotel is in fact near to an 18 hole golf course inscribed in the Guinness Book of World Records since hole number 15 is a Par 3 with the biggest height difference in Europe.
I will go back to the Mirabell in winter, to experience this hotel in a different season, and I am sure I will relax and enjoy the beauties of the surroundings.
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