Michael Cranmer Samples The Delights Of The Kronplatz Falkensteiner Hotel And Learns The Secrets Of Making The Best Pizza
Five Star
The Kronplatz Falkensteiner Hotel is a five-star hotel nestling at the foot of the mountain from which it takes its name. Located within the stunning Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage area, the four distinct buildings echo the traditions and seasons of the South Tirol – vision of local architect Matteo Thun. The extraordinary lobby sets the scene. A tree clad in autumn leaves climbs to a glass dome supported by interlaced cross beams. Sofas and stools, furnished in deep blue and rust colours, are grouped around, the On The Rocks Bar occupies one wall.
This is the heart of the Kronplatz Falkensteiner Hotel, lobby and living room from which all radiates. The bar leads via a terraced courtyard to the 7Summit Restaurant, and the Acquapura Summit Spa, more of which later.
Going Up
The first and second floors house thirty-five deluxe, and forty grand deluxe double rooms with large panoramic windows and a balcony or terrace with views of the mountains. Mine included a full-size suede medicine ball, yoga mat, and wall bars…no lazing about for me! Navigating between ‘houses’ (as each of the four wings is called) requires a level head and late-night spatial awareness, both of which I constantly left in the bar. Orientation is helped by cute scale models in your relevant corridor, mine contained skiers descending a tiny mountainside, another a charming summer scene with lusty hikers rambling over a rickety bridge. Delightful.
The Floor On The Roof
The top floor (confusingly dubbed the Roof Floor) of Kronplatz Falkensteiner Hotel accommodates eleven junior suites and, the poshest of the posh, six Summit Suites with Personal Experience Concierge Service. Each has not one, but two balconies, heated outdoor area with outdoor sofa and seating area, a private wall bar, workout utensils, medicine ball (same as in my grand deluxe suite!) bathtub with view, rain shower and outdoor Finnish sauna with view. The views of the Dolomites are magnificent, from whichever windows you gaze. If you stay at these lofty heights I imagine the Personal Experience Concierge Service will guide you to your room if late-night confusion sets in. That’s what five-star service is all about.
Chef’s Secrets
The day starts in the 7Summit Restaurant, with an extensive energy-rich Active Mountain breakfast, with emphasis on local produce. The in-house barista attends to coffee addicts’ needs and staff are on hand to cater to individual tastes. The lunch menu is à la carte tapas-style and changes daily. The Chef Federico Carsili’s slow-food philosophy comes into its own with the 7Summit concept – inspired by the highest peaks in Europe. For dinner, there’s a choice between two multi-course gourmet menus, beginning with starters placed in the middle of the table according to the sharing principle.
Social dining is the motto. Federico, a Neapolitan, let me into the secrets of his favourite dish…Pizza Napoletana naturally! It’s all in the prep. patience, and the best flour (Caputo ‘Nuvola’), that and letting the dough rest for at least 24 hours. “It’s love for me…like growing a baby” he says. You’ll have to visit to him to find out the rest. I was startled to discover that one of my favourite wines – Gewürtztraminer – comes from this region, the Alto-Adige. I had always presumed it to be from Alsace, but no! The little village of Tramin seventy odd miles up the valley, is its origin. The Perelisa SudTirol Alto Adige DOC I drank was sublime.
Making an Entrance
The 1,400 square meter Acquapura Summit Spa, consisting of five levels, forms a separate building. You can enter conventionally by lift or stairs or make an entrance via the twelve-metre-high indoor climbing wall which connects the floors. On the ground floor is reception with lounge, fitness, yoga and exercise rooms, and two relaxation rooms, eight treatment rooms and a separate private spa with sauna and hammam. The loos are indicated by a wall of white trainers. On the first floor is the 25-metre-long outdoor sports pool and summer sunbathing; above all this a bio sauna, a 30m² panoramic sauna and a rooftop pool. Bit nippy in the winter.
Feel Good
The Kronplatz Falkensteiner Hotel is consciously focused on fitness and relaxation. General manager Mark van Leeuwen has done his homework: “Our guests come to experience the wonderful area, and to get fit, relax, and feel better. We have many famous sports men and women staying, and no, I can’t tell you who”, he laughs, “my lips are sealed.” Winter skiing, summer walking, cycling, wellness, golf and climbing are all on offer. The area is rich in culture and history and revels in its Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage status. Medieval Bruneck/Brunico and Bolzano are nearby. The 2,275-metre-high Kronplatz mountain base lift is next to the hotel.
Take Flight
A new airline makes getting to the hotel from UK a sheer joy. I boarded a SkyAlps DASH-8 Q-400 aircraft at Gatwick flying direct to Bolzano, their HQ, with Kronplatz just a couple of hours away. On board the turbo-prop high-wing plane, I was served Pinot Grigio SüdTirol Alto Adige DOC, in a glass (no SqueezyJet plastic here!), one of four complimentary wines offered to passengers. I looked out of the window at the Dolomites below, sparkling in the sunshine, and fancied I could spot the vineyard where my drink had come from. ‘Saluti’.
Tell Me More About The Falkensteiner Kronplatz Hotel, And Skyalps.
Prices: An overnight stay for two people in a deluxe double room including 7Summit three-quarter board from €409 per room and night. For stays of at least five nights, guests can enjoy the Falkensteiner Kronplatz Hotel long-stay discount of 10% off on the daily rate, including 7Summit three-quarter board.
SkyAlps
SkyAlps operates flights from London Gatwick – Bolzano from €184 each way. Children under two years old travel free of charge.
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