In northern Italy’s fragrant pine forests, amongst the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites National Park, Sensoria is a hotel like no other.
This is a retreat where every element has been consciously curated to ensure you leave on a different level to your arrival: relaxed, restored and revived.
Sensoria opened in 2022 and is the creation of Lea Oberhofer, whose parents met as teenagers while working on a property at the site. Born into hospitality, Lea wanted to create a holistic approach, and the result is a resort designed to revolutionise the way we travel; a space that allows you to reconnect with nature – and with yourself. A 20 minute drive from the town of Bolzano – along winding roads clinging to mist-swirled mountains and with views across lush green valleys – is your first introduction to the nature of the region.
Flying in on boutique alpine airline SkyAlps, which this spring moved from its Stansted hub to offer a twice weekly flight from Gatwick, you arrive at Bolzano’s petite airport – or embrace slow travel with a train ride from Austria’s Innsbruck, a winding journey through the Tyrol and into Italy’s towering Dolomites.
The Vibe
Inspired by Japanese architecture and with an aim to bring the outdoors in, Sensoria is built around a sun-drenched central atrium. Something unlocks in your psyche the moment you cross the threshold: senses are stimulated with ever-changing olfactory concepts based around the seasons and soothing indigo tones.
An open plan lounge area welcomes guests with a roaring fire and stunning library of fascinating nature books, from atlases of the Alps to flowers of the Südtirol; tomes are in Italian and German but if you can’t read them it’s a welcoming space to curl up in nonetheless. Though views of the mountains are a continuous beckon outside.
While there’s no notices demanding silence in public areas, it’s almost as if guests want to preserve the innate calmness that Sensoria delivers; tones are naturally hushed, and everyone’s pace is somewhat placid compared to the outside world, as if protective of the peacefully bucolic atmosphere.
The Rooms
Simplicity is key for the 45 minimal rooms and two suites, all sleek and elegant with no fuss. Bedecked in local pine, each is flooded with light. Our wraparound balcony overlooked the spa in the shadow of the Sciliar Massif mountain – the most spectacular view to take in with a morning coffee. There’s something terribly romantic about a misty mountain view at dawn and this one is no exception. Local teas and snacks are on hand alongside Aesop skincare and robes ready for spa time.
The Spa
Sensoria’s spa is the pinnacle of the resort. The complex takes up one wing of the hotel, with its signature pine throughout bringing the outdoors in. An indoor-outdoor swimming pool is surrounded by daybeds with floor-to-ceiling window views of the forests and waterfalls just outside. Saunas and steam rooms provide a welcome spa circuit. Multiple relaxation rooms are home to loungers overlooking the forest and mountains, alongside cushioned pine pods with cosy throws that are meant for snuggly snoozes; this is a space designed for maximum relaxation. It’s perfectly possible to swim-steam-snooze-repeat all day, though yoga and pilates classes are on offer for those with the energy.
Not to be missed are the daily sauna infusions, which involve pouring a combination of water and essential oils – eucalyptus, jasmine and orange blossom – onto the hot stones of the Finnish sauna stove, before the Aufgussmeister (sauna master) uses a fan and towel to waft the hot, scented steam across bathers. Soundtracked by Ennio Morricone scores, this 15-minute experience was intense but stimulating, so much so we returned an hour later for the next; it’s a spellbinding experience. Sitting outside in the fresh spring air post-sauna infusion, having doused ourselves with ice and listening to the roar of a waterfall in the shadow of snow-dusted peaks, was a truly reviving moment.
The Food + Drink
Sensoria’s ethos is all about nourishment, and its menu is no exception. A daily breakfast spread encompasses homemade granolas and mueslis, fresh fruit, nuts and seeds for a build-your-own bowl. Local Tyrolean cheeses, cured meats, eggs and hot dishes are accompanied by freshly baked breads and pastries, while a juicer welcomes guests to create their own morning concoction; we enjoyed a daily dose of carrot, apple and ginger ahead of our spread.
Come lunchtime, the dining room is laid out with a another hearty spread, and you’re invited to come and go as you please, picking from plates of rich quiches, hearty salads and freshly baked cakes. This daily, changing menu combines freshly prepared dishes with leftovers from the previous night’s dinner, ensuring nothing goes to waste.
You’ll be invited to choose your evening meal at breakfast time, ensuring dinner is ready the moment you waft downstairs following your afternoon in the spa. The restaurant draws influences from both the Mediterranean flavours of Italy and the indulgent delights of France, accompanied with a choice of 70 locally sourced fine wines.
The Little Extras
You’re greeted at breakfast with an acoustic guitarist strumming gentle melodies, and a daily newsletter highlighting the weather forecast, local events and activities, and the day’s wellness programme. For an intimate dining experience opt for a private dinner under the Sciliar. Six courses begin with salad and soup, and light portions make sure it never feels overbearing. You’ll undoubtedly retire suitably sated for a post-prandial snooze.
The To-Do List
Sensoria sits at the bottom of the Seiser Alm, or Alpe de Siusi, Europe’s largest high-elevation Alpine meadow. Just a five-minute walk from the hotel’s door lies a cable car that will take you up it, soaring over lush fields and wooden chalets to a different land altogether, one complete with 60 km of hiking trails.
By November, this region has transformed into the largest ski area in the Dolomites, home to some 181 km of slopes and 80 km of cross-country trails; the idyllic Laghetto di Fiè, a wild swimming paradise during summer becomes a magical ice-rink during winter. Spring, summer, autumn or winter, this is an astonishingly beautiful landscape.
Back at the hotel, and a long with sound baths, forest bathing, hiking and relaxation, Sensoria has introduced equipassion equine therapy, a holistic experience between human and horse to encourage a sense of mindfulness and connection. However you choose to spend your time, we have no doubt you’ll leave feeling markedly different to when you arrived.
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