(Feature story from the Field Book Issue 1)

Alpina Dolomites looks like a spaceship that has landed on the highest alpine plateau in Europe, and ended up cradled by the dramatic, jagged peaks of the Dolomite mountains in northern Italy. The hotel is constructed from pale quartzite that has been complemented with wooden arches which both softens its appearance and mimics the surrounding mountains. Inside, the curved wooden ceiling gives the interior a spacious feel that is further amplified by the floor-to-ceiling windows.

But it is the Alpina Chalet building, one of the three restaurants on the premises, that really stands out. If the main hotel is the spaceship itself, the Alpina Chalet looks like a lunar module with its rounded shape and the dramatic wooden arches that cover its exterior. Inside, a casual menu is served up between the dark, wooden walls. The Trattoria Dell’Alpe in the main building, on the other hand, offers a fine dining menu that draws inspiration from the rich culinary traditions of nearby Venice and Verona, with seafood, pasta, and meats prepared in a creative fusion style.

Outside the hotel doors, one of the biggest ski areas in the world, Dolomiti Superski, awaits, offering near-endless options including the ultra-classic Sellaronda ski route, perfect groomers, and some of the world’s best couloir skiing for true experts. All of this is wrapped up in genuine, Italian hospitality.