Italy holidays: this mountain is at its best in the summer months, says Libby Brodie If you ever wondered what it’s like visiting a ski destination in summer, let me tell you that the rumours are true: it really is like stepping into a Hans Christian Anderson fairytale. At least, this was my first impression when I visited La Perla in the Italian Dolomites this July. I blame Disney but I kept expecting Julie Andrews to come bursting out with “The Hills are Alive.
..” Or at the very least, a puppet singing “it’s a small world after all!” I was staying at La Perla, a five-star family hotel in the tiny village of Corvara, surrounded by the towering peaks of the Dolomite mountains.
Think stone arches outside and warm wooden furnishings inside. The lady in a dirndl dress at reception did nothing to dispel the sense of nostalgia, nor the white capped and aproned maids who served in the breakfast room. La Perla is owned by Ted Talk alumni Michil Costa, internationally known for his radical ideas about hospitality and his passion for preserving the Ladin culture of northern Italy.
One of his passions is reducing the carbon footprint of hotels. At La Perla there is no air-con, though you can request a fan if opening a window to the cool mountain air just makes you hotter. Last year they tied guests’ cars with a big green ribbon and anyone who did not drive during their stay was gifted a free night on their next booking.
The hotel has 51 rooms, including new suites, many w.