STAR-STUDDED HOTEL NEWS

Five-star Golf and Spa Resort Andreus is a brand new hotel, the first spa resort in San Leanardo/St. Leonhard. Located just 15 minutes' drive from Merano/Meran on the 18-hole Passeier-Merano golf course, the all-suite property opened the 27. March 2009. Accommodation is vast - 40sq m to 100sq m suites - decked in South Tyrolean wood, stone and textiles with sun-drenched, south-facing balconies or terraces. Highlights of the resort include its local gastro treats - organic buffet breakfasts and six-course, low-calorie evening meals - and the 5,000sq m "Vitality Spa". Here guests find heated indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna, brine steam bath, herbal baths, a "panoramic sauna" and extra family sauna, various fitness, exercise and beauty rooms plus a dedicated treatment area. Days can be spent luxuriating in the Feng Shui- compliant Mediterranean garden area or for the more active traveller, there's Nordic walking; hiking; mountain biking; water aerobics; yoga; Qi Gong; musical evenings or cultural excursions. Or, of course, on the golf course. A family-friendly hotel too, Hotel Andreus regales resident families with its childcare and babysitting services, play rooms, a youth room, cinema and children's pools with water slides.

Summer prices start from 102 euros per person per night half-board in a junior suite.

Following its recent refit, the Park Hotel Mignon and Spa in Merano/Meran, reopened on 28 March 2009, now replete with its fifth star. The family-owned 50-room property, set in 2.5-acres of trees, meadows and flora, is an ideal bolthole for foodies and luxury lovers. Typically for South Tyrol, its culinary emphasis is on light, healthy dishes, based on fresh, locally grown, quality produce. Expect everything from veal medallions to river trout, prepared with panache by Chef Hanspeter Hummel, from Naturno/Naturns. The 1,200sq m spa area and sauna pavilion at Park Hotel Mignon boasts a sun deck, with vistas overlooking the water lily pond in the green park. As well as its rare offering of dedicated male treatments, the hotel's spa specialises in facials and beauty treatments, massages and seasonal treatments such as bioenergetic body treatment in spring; sparkling Yin-Yang body treatment in summer and grape and hay-based treatments in autumn.

Summer prices start from 140 euros per person per night half-board in a standard double.

On 26 December 2008 South Tyrol's new class A "Climate House", the "Balance Residenz", opened at Hotel ADLER in Ortisei/St. Ulrich in Val Gardena/Gröden. Already at the top of South Tyrol's energy efficiency and environmental friendliness classification system as they open their doors, the new five-star Residenz (German for royal or noble residences) in the valley of Val Gardena / Gröden offers extra privacy thanks to their exclusive location just above the Hotel ADLER main building, overlooking the park. Oozing organic goodness, the Residenz's floors and walls are constructed of untreated larch, oak, stone, pine and elm. With sofas, a carefully stocked library and tea-making corner, the living areas offer a relaxing corner in which to while away the days, with sheltered open-air terraces from which to enjoy the South Tyrolean landscape. Guests at the Residenz can take their stay seriously with a visit to the spa's doctor studio and natural medicine practice or unwind with water-based treatments at the "Aguana" Water World or ADLER spa "Dolasilla" - one of the leading beauty centres in the Alps. Accommodation is in airy junior suites, festooned with local artwork and boasting large, larch balconies.

Summer prices start from 217 euros per person per night full-board (based on seven-night stay and must be booked in conjunction with ADLER Balance® health programme)

SUMMER EVENTS AND CULTURE IN THE DOLOMITES

Between 11 July and 2 August 2009, Vipiteno / Sterzing transforms into South Tyrol's "yoghurt town". From 14.00 on Saturday 11th the celebrations of Vipiteno's 11th yoghurt festival starts in the local dairy, including tastings and entertainment from various South Tyrolean music groups. Now renowned for its yoghurt production, the Vipiteno dairy will also be collaborating with local hoteliers to showcase the multiplicity of types of local yoghurt. The highlight is set to be Yoghurt Olympics, where blindfolded guests taste and guess different flavours of yoghurts.

Early July sees a sea of vintage cars hit the roads of Scena/Schenna and the surrounding area at the 24th "South Tyrol Classic Rally of Sympathy". Between 5 and 12 July 2009 the annual rally of automobile classics will be complemented by presentations, guided sightseeing city tours and dinners at local restaurants such as the Trautmannsdorf, Merano and Restaurant Schlosswirt in central Scena. Between Sunday 5 and Wednesday 8 July there is also a cultural programme as part of the festivities, which starts with an evening party and live music at Scena's Raiffeisen Square.

On Sunday 12 July 2009, between 09.00 and 15.30, adrenalin junkies can hit the Sella Ronda of the for lungs full of oxygen-heavy air, as South Tyrol's largest Dolomite circuit opens exclusively to cyclists. The Sella Ronda "bike day", now in its third consecutive year, applies to all Dolomite passes around the Sella Group - Sella, Gardena, Pordoi and Campolongo. All the refugio (mountain huts) and restaurants near the path will be offering "cyclist dishes", "Sella Ronda Bike Day" t-shirts and personalised "Sella Ronda Bike Day" water bottles.

Those looking for a step back in time for a Medieval summer extravaganza can head to Sluderno/Schluderns between 21 and 23 August 2009 where the annual jousting and medieval tournaments will be extra special to celebrate of 750th anniversary celebrations of the venue, Castle Churburg. The family event will offer the chance to witness over 1,000 armed knights, lansquenets, knaves, merchants, jugglers, drummers and flag-wavers recreating the occasion of Medieval tournaments against the backdrop of the Alps. The event will include various free attractions and entertainment aimed at children.

Visit www.ritterspiele.it (German only) or call 0039 0473 737070

Running until the end of October the "Labyrinth::Freedom" exhibition in the Habsburg fortress Fortezza / Franzensfeste will be tracing the intrinsically Tyrolean theme of freedom and freedom that changes over time and with its subject.

The exhibition will also include works of these five artists

• 1963-born Kiel artist Julia Bornefeld who lives and works in Brunico

• 1973-born Argentinean Tomas Saraceno, who is based in Frankfurt

• 1978-born performer und video artist Michael Fliri who is a local Silandro / Schlanders artist

• 1959-born Gargazonne-based illustrator Paul Thuile

• 1952-born, architecture-focused Manfred Mayr who splits his working life between Merano und Bolzano.

MUSIC IN THE MOUNTAINS

Val Badia/Gadertal, in eastern South Tyrol, is hosting its 11th summer festival of jazz, funk, blues and pop music throughout the valley between 19 July and 20 August 2009. The Val Badia jazz festival will offer visitors the opportunity to get together in restaurants, village squares, theatres, hotels, castles, pubs and cocktail bars, indulging their passion for music and mountains. During this festival, which is organised in collaboration with the Ladin union for culture and music (Uniun Musicala y Culturala Ladina), a range of theatres, village halls, squares and streets will reverberate with the swinging riffs of countless Italian and international jazz musicians.

NEW SUMMER ROUTES TO THE SOUTH TYROLEAN SKIES

Since Saturday 23 May 2009 the new Funivia del Renon/Rittner Seilbahn-cable car has offered visitors a 12-minute connection between provincial capital Bolzano/Bozen and Renon/Ritten. Due to its altitude, Renon has long been a popular escape from Bolzano in the scorching summer months and the traditional cable car had linked the two towns for over 100 years. The new 24-seat cable cars make the 4,541m ascent at four-minute intervals, offering breathtaking views. Journeys costs 2.50 euros per person one-way or 3.50 euros per person return. A 20 per cent reduction applies for groups of 10 or more.

April 2009 saw the arrival of the new Funivia Texel/Texel Bahn-cable car, which connects Parcines/Partschins and Giggelberg and offers a direct route to the Meraner Höhenweg, a popular hiking path near Merano at 1,544m altitude. Prices start at €12.30 return for adults or €5 return for children (six to 13 years old).

BACK-TO-NATURE ACCOMMODATION THIS SUMMER

South Tyrol is this year encouraging travellers to the region try to try out an affordable family holiday in an eco-friendly surrounding, on a farm. Throughout summer 2009 over 1,350 farmhouse holiday options, extending over an area of 7,400sq m, will be available in South Tyrol. The properties are all listed in a 114-page brochure that categorises farms by special interest, such as family-friendly, high altitude, organic, historic, rider-friendly and accessible to those with disabilities. Prices start from 60 euros per night for two to six people.

SOUTH TYROL RETAINS ITS GRIP ON ITALY'S ORGANIC HOTELS

The opening of four-star Theiner's Garten hotel in March 2009 grew Italy's tally of "organic hotels" to four, with South Tyrol retaining its 100 per cent possession of the country's so-called BIO-Hotels. These include the:

• Three-star BIO-Hotel Panorama in Malles/Mals

• Three-star BIO-Hotel Kaufmann in Ora/Auer

• Four-star BIO-Hotel Taubers Vitalhotel in Chienes/Kiens

• Four-star superior BIO-Hotel Theiner's Garten in Gargazzone/Gargazon

BIO-Hotels aim to offer the ultimate organic holiday, acknowledging that modern conventional agriculture and the production of nutrition almost always includes the use of chemicals and genetically modified organisms, both of which a property must shun in order to be considered for BIO-Hotel membership.

GETTING THERE

• British Airways flies twice a day from London Gatwick to Verona from just £115 return including taxes, fees and charges

• easyJet flies to Innsbruck from London Gatwick, Liverpool and Bristol with prices from £22.99 one-way (incl. taxes) and return from £45.98 (incl. taxes).

Bolzano in South Tyrol is approximately a 90-minute drive from both Verona and Innsbruck. Low-fare Dolomiti transfers run from Bergamo, Verona, Venice and Treviso airports to Bolzano in South Tyrol from 17 euros each way.

There is a bus service from Innsbruck airport.

www.suedtirol.info/gettingthere