Hotel Elda
Ledro valley, near Lake Garda, Italy
Style on a budget: rustic guesthouse goes eco-modern among the forests and frosted mountains north of ravishing Lake Ledro.
In the same family since 1949, this once traditional village inn
might have continued thus for another half century. But son and
heir (and art college graduate) Andrea had other ideas, inviting a
team of architect-designers to reinvent the old building and add a
radical new extension – a geometry of glass and timber, with
cubic decks of outdoor space and eco-friendly thinking. The result
is gasthof-meets-design-hotel: the same family ethos (mum,
dad, daughter, baby, three-legged cat) but with space-age bathrooms
and Philippe Stark chairs.
Lenzumo’s shiny newcomer sits among apple trees in the heart
of the Concei Valley – an alpine landscape of lush farmland,
tinkling cowbells, low half-timbered houses with a touch of the
Tyrol. To the south, the road wiggles down to the petite Lago di
Ledro, one of the least known and most picturesque of Italy’s
northern lakes. A few miles to the north the road peters out
– making tracks into deep dark forests of pine. This is where
you do the proper eco thing, and just get out and walk.
Reviewed by Lesley Gillilan
Last updated 06 January 2012
Highs
- Stylish contemporary rooms at affordable rates
- A corner of undiscovered Trentino: lakes and moutains without the crowds
- Five-star eco credentials – thermo insulation, solar energy and a low carbon footprint
- Set in beautiful countryside, with views across open farmland to the snow-capped foothills of the Dolomites
- Mini “bio spa” with sauna, steam room and rainbow shower
Lows
- A bit out of the way – especially if you are looking for nightlife and bustle; this is deep country
- Beyond the designer interiors, there’s nothing particularly hip about the hotel – think Birkenstock not Prada
- The restaurant and dining room are over-lit and lack atmosphere; and the full-board plan is a tad regimented (although amazing value)
