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Rural Retreats to Rejuvenate the Soul

ITALY
With several properties located in South Tyrol, Originals and natives of the region Klaus and Mortiz Dissertori establish connections to the local landscapes. Situated in Lana, Hotel Schwarzschmeidreflects the stunning beauty of the region with an emphasis on wellness that includes a spa, yoga, outdoor activities, and its own vineyard. To recenter, the spa features three saunas and a yoga studio with a program for guests to cultivate inner gardens: at least two yoga classes are hosted daily, alongside special events including running seminars and guided hikes. Regional materials, such as larch and spruce as well as marble from the Vinschgau Valley, bring the outside in, while an outdoor 29-meter-long pool includes a large sunbathing area with a pergola and views of the vineyards. The hotel is also an ideal starting point to discover paths, hikes, and drives to the Ulten Valley, the Gampen Pass, Mount Vigiljoch, and Merano, where guests immerse themselves in a storied landscape of gorges, mountains, and culture.

Nearby is the Dissertori brothers' Villa Arnica, a 12-room villa that perfectly captures the classic village traditions of South Tyrol. The building, originally designed in 1925, is a tribute to grandeur and countryside living as well as a celebration of artisanal craftsmanship. Because of the original architect's attention to flow and form, every room has a unique layout, while the location itself is surrounded by vineyards, apple trees and palm trees, hills and mountains. Guests can use the facilities at Hotel Schwarzschmeid or lounge near Villa Arnica's own tiled pool, which dates back to 1965 and is set amidst a lush garden. The area also has many cycling and hiking routes to explore, such as the sunny Tappeinerweg trail, a 19th-century landscaped botanical trail with over 400 labeled tree and shrub specimens. Be it pool- or hillside, this adults-only retreat is a place where guests can put their mind at rest and enjoy listening to the present.

POLAND
In Stawiguda, Masuria, an idyllic region in northeast Poland, Małgosia and Wojciech Żółtowsky, a local artist couple, oversee Hotel Galery69, a lakefront hotel and gallery. The duo handcrafted all the furnishings from natural materials, such as wood and stone, offering modern and personal interpretations of the lake-speckled landscape, backdropped by rotating art exhibitions. Exclusive and private are the hotel's Jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath, and blue mosaic pool surrounded by rough gray stones. Beyond the property, Wulpińskie Lake is consistent in its splendor, whether frozen over or bathed in warm sun. A visit during the winter might mean ice skating as snow falls gently onto the red roofs of lakeside cottages; come summer, it's easy to spend days fishing, swimming, or kayaking as a breeze ripples the water's surface.

FRANCE
In Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt, Provence, Les Andéolsis a peaceful haven where everything has been designed to preserve the calm and tranquility of the place while offering a variety of spaces and facilities conducive to relaxation. Spread across a 32-hectare natural estate, guests will discover a multi-centenary plane tree and its perched terrace, a palm grove with ponds, a lush vegetable garden, olive trees, and authentic vineyards. Two outdoor pools are accessible for all guests, while the three Maisons Deluxe villas feature their own private pools. The onsite fine-dining experience at La Loggia focuses on healthy and seasonal dishes crafted with ingredients straight from the property's farm, while bicycles can be rented to explore the estate and surrounding lavender fields, vineyards, and pine woodlands on two wheels. With pure lines, bespoke spaces, and a sublime collection of art and iconic design pieces, this Provençal hamlet is intimate and isolated but never solitary.

USA
With sweeping views of the Catskill Mountains, Scribner's Catskill Lodgeis a cozy escape near Hunter Mountain, New York with over 20 acres of mountainside to explore. Indoor spaces like a whiskey lounge and a library encourage leaning back and enjoying quiet moments, while outdoor spaces beckon meaningful meandering and communal gatherings. A barrel sauna perches on a hill, with a large window looking out over the mountainous vista. The Front Lawn is home to a bocce ball court, a large firepit, and ample lawn games, while The Meadow is wild field providing an ecosystem for indigenous plants and wildlife. With mowed paths, guests can explore acres of wildflowers and tall grasses during the spring, summer, and fall, keeping an eye out for foraging birds and frolicking butterflies along the way. The lodge's seasonal events celebrate the outdoors, be it après ski in the winter, yoga in warmer months, or the beloved year-round campfire and s'mores nights.

JAPAN
At Iki Retreat by Onko Chishin, a traditional 12-room ryokan on Japan's ancient Iki Island, guests can experience sublime views of the Genkai Sea, blissful hot spring baths, and exquisite natural beauty. Collapsing boundaries between the inside and out, all rooms feature open-air baths filled directly with natural hot spring water and vistas across Yunomoto Bay. The original and communally useable hot spring dates back around 1,700 years, while a private onsen can also be reserved to unwind and take advantage of the water's antibacterial and moisturizing properties in solitude. Rich wood tones and a spare design scheme ground guests in warmth while also focusing attention on the surrounding splendor. Additionally, boat journeys take guests to cliffs and craggy inlets embraced by forested hills, idyllic fishing villages, deep coves, and small islands dotting the bays-and once the sun sets, the illuminated starry night sky and fireflies steal the show.