Set in the stunning landscape of Piedmont’s Langhe, Relais San Maurizio is a magnificent 5-star hotel housed in an ancient 17th-century Cistercian monastery. The property has been extensively refurbished, carefully preserving original features and mixing them with elegant contemporary furnishings. Views are dominated by the surrounding vineyards and a stunning park home to a centuries-old oak tree and complete with an officinal herb garden and an organic vegetable garden that provide the raw materials used to create the food and cosmetics on offer at the hotel.
Foodies are spoilt for choice at the relais. Michelin-starred Guido da Costigliole restaurant serves Piedmontese classics like such as vitello tonnato and handmade stuffed agnolotti. Guests dine in the cozy atmosphere of the monastery’s ancient cellars, while in the summer tables spread out to a lovely terrace overlooking the kitchen and the Langhe hills. For a more casual dining experience, the Origini Bistrot is the perfect spot to savor local specialties overlooking the monastery’s cloister and flower garden. Afterwards, the Truffle Cafè Wine & Cocktail Bar is the place to enjoy a fine glass of wine or one of the special cocktails inspired by the life and works of Ernest Hemingway, who remained fascinated by the beauty of the region.
Available to guests are a heated outdoor pool perched on the hill with splendid views over the verdant countryside and a state-of-the-art wellness and medical spa offering a wide range of specialty treatments like thalassotherapy in the salt cave, wine therapies and special yoga sessions. For those looking for a little action, the hotel can organize a series of activities including trekking excursions, truffle hunting and tours of regional gems such as the Sabaude royal residence of Venaria Reale and Turin’s exceptional Egyptian Museum. What’s more, the resident chef leads special cooking classes, where he shares precious cooking tips while teaching traditional Piedmontese recipes.