Of all the chic new hotels that have opened in the Dolomites in recent years, Castel Badia—set in a manor house that dates back to the year 1000—is at the top of the pile. The hotel, an Alpine counterpart to Puglia’s Borgo Egnazia, was created by Ian Schrager’s protégé Aldo Melpignano, who brings a new sense of cool to high-end Italian hospitality. The building has served as a courthouse, a convent, a private castle, and, since the 1970s, a hotel. A recent renovation saved everything that could be saved: The floors, wood ceilings, stuccoed vaults, and frescoes remain. Silence reigns in this ancient castle, where life, as it did in the Middle Ages, revolves around the courtyard. Through that nexus, you access the garden, swimming pool, guest rooms (there are 28 in total, along with a three-story chalet), basement spa with frescoed relaxation rooms overlooking the mountains, and the crypt of San Lorenzo, a protected site that, like the rest of the castle, is open to the public. This remains a sacred place, even as guests enjoy its sybaritic offerings. —Sara Magro
