The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Sarah Marshal
Forestis was once used as a retreat for friends of the Vatican. You can understand why, given its celestial position 1,800 metres above sea level and often enveloped by clouds.
Nowadays, you don’t need to be remotely religious to visit — but you do need to appreciate the majesty of mountains.
Forestis is set in Plose, a small, peaceful resort in the Dolomites, and is perfect for skiers and non-skiers. In fact, such is the draw of the high Alpine hiking trails, delicious mountain cuisine and glorious spa with its steaming indoor-outdoor pool and wood-fired saunas, that the majority of guests choose not to ski.
Natural highs: Harriet Sime checks into the Forestis hotel in the Italian ski resort of Plose. Above is the view of the Dolomites from one of the hotel’s suites
Forestis began as a wooden chalet in 1912 and was used as a sanatorium for tuberculosis sufferers
The ‘glorious’ spa features wood-fired saunas and a steaming indoor-outdoor pool (above)
The majority of guests at the hotel choose not to ski, Harriet reveals. Instead they enjoy the high Alpine hiking trails and the hotel’s spa
