South Tyrolean apartment hotel with unique architecture in Italian Alps

OLM Nature Escape / Campo Tures / Trentino-Alto Adige / Italy

New builds can be difficult. To make a newly built hotel get that lived-in feeling you can only get in old buildings. That cozy, warm feeling that is difficult to create but rather is a result of a long history. But like with all rules, there are exceptions, where new doesn’t mean generic. This is such a place, the unique OLM Nature Escape.

The first thing that stand out is the shape of the hotel. A circular structure inspired by old millstones which has been created by local firm Andreas Gruber Architects. It is fascinating that a building inspired by something as ancient as millstones can feel futuristic. Almost like some kind of space ship that has temporarily landed among the South Tyrolean mountains.

The 41 rooms are placed along the 350 meter glass corridor that follows the shape of the building. We opted for an Apartsuite M, a larch clad studio where we had a fully equipped kitchen and to my husband’s great joy, a free standing bath tub and our own sauna. One of my favorite features was the floor-to-ceiling windows, the balcony and the placement of the bed. Love when you can lay in bed and take in the views. Especially when the views are as stunning as they are here in the Dolomites.

OLM Nature Escape, which opened in Dec 2023, is a true destination hotel, where you wouldn’t have to leave the hotel during your stay if you didn’t want to. There is a great restaurant serving local treats, a great gym and spa. But what stands out the most is the park that has been created inside the circular building, where you’ll find an outdoor pool, surrounded by a natural bathing pond.

This is a place that takes circularity seriously (pun intended), where they are more or less fully self-sufficient. Solar panels, geo-thermal heating system and most of what is served in the hotel is either from the kitchen garden or sourced from local producers in the Aurina Valley. In addition, OLM is a hotel that inspires you to disconnect and recharge. There is no TV in the rooms but there is a switch to turn your WiFi on and off as you please. So come here, disconnect, turn off the WiFi and enjoy all what OLM and the stunning surrounding nature has to offer.

The circular structure is nestled into the surroundings.

The 350 m glass corridor follows the curved shape of the building.

Our studio apartment was all dressed in larch.

Free standing bath tub and private sauna. Like having our own little spa in our room.

This was my favorite spot, the hanging lounge bed on the balcony.

The outdoor pool, surrounded by a natural bathing pond.

Evening has arrived, making the hotel look even more futuristic when lit up.

…where we had an aperitivo before dinner.

Our favorite way to start the day was to go down to the spa for a dip in the outdoor pool. M about to swim through the sliding doors.

M enjoying the calm, cold Winter morning.

After morning swim, time to dig into the hearty Alpine breakfast. Most difficult decision was to choose what butter to have.

Ok, time to leave (although difficult) the hotel and go outside.

I really love, love, love the Italian Alps.

M enjoying the cross country tracks at the northern end of the Aurina Valley, in Casere.

When back at hotel we went directly to the spa to recharge.

RG inside info

This place is perfect if you…

…prefer to stay in an apartment when traveling to the Italian Alps. If you like traditional South Tyrolean design infused with contemporary elements, packaged in a unique building with a strong sustainability profile, you will feel totally at home at OLM Nature Resort.

My favorite thing about this place…

…is the architecture. It is so cleverly done, where the hotel is built as a circle around a courtyard where you’ll find the outdoor, geo-thermally heated pool. I don’t fully know why, but the shape adds an unexpected futuristic element to the design, where it almost feels like we are onboard some kind of space ship that has briefly landed among the mountains.

What not to miss when staying here…

…is to explore the northern end of the Aurina Valley. Sure, famous Kronplatz is located in the other direction, where there is great downhill skiing, but if you go the other direction, to Casere, you will find some excellent cross country skiing tracks, with views of the dramatic Ziller Alps, close to the Austrian border.

If you like this hotel you might also like:

ATTO Suites / San Candido, South Tyrol, Italy

Milla Montis / Maranza, South Tyrol, Italy

Bühelwirt / San Giacomo, South Tyrol, Italy