In the centre of Ortisei, ADLER Dolomiti and neighbouring ADLER Balance offer unique opportunities for a fairy-tale Christmas immersed in the dreamlike atmosphere of Val Gardena. Markets brimming with local specialities and crafts just a few steps from the resorts, moments of wellbeing in evocative lakeside saunas and gourmet dining provide all the ingredients for making the most of this special time of year.
Slowly falling snowflakes paint a fairy-tale landscape, where the snowy peaks of Sassolungo and Sassopiatto stand like ancient guardians over villages that become even more picturesque at Christmas, with joyful lights and aromas of gingerbread, cinnamon and chocolate. This is also true of Ortisei, the Val Gardena village home to two high-end hospitality properties preparing to welcome guests with elegance and special initiatives to celebrate the year’s most magical season. ADLER Dolomiti, a historic local hotel, invites families to enjoy a stay dedicated to wellbeing and discovering the area, while neighbouring ADLER Balance, the resort with a medical spa in central Ortisei, is the perfect destination for couples seeking an oasis of calm where the festivities unfold in an intimate setting, with the valuable opportunity to care for their health.
Among the property’s personalised Med programmes, those addressing burnout, work-related distress and smoking dependence, rebalancing daily rhythms, sleep and physical and mental wellbeing, restoring energy and managing inflammation and acute or chronic pain are particularly suited to this time of year.
In the heart of the village, the properties provide an ideal starting point for immersing yourself in the welcoming atmosphere of Christmas, when the air smells of cinnamon, apple and mulled wine and the streets come alive with stalls and festive melodies wishing happiness to all who hear them. During this period, Ortisei’s pedestrian zone becomes a large market of wooden chalets that welcomes visitors until early January, bringing together Val Gardena’s historic traditions and exclusive seasonal products such as local sweets, fine liqueurs and South Tyrolean wines renowned for their aromas. In the village, visitors can also discover Val Gardena’s long tradition of woodcarving through exhibitions of carved nativity scenes and a life-size reproduction of one of the symbols of its wooden-toy heritage, the “rider and horse”. To see the original, simply visit Museum Gherdëina and explore the many exhibits in a display dedicated to traditional toys. The historic centre also offers plenty of attractions for younger visitors, including a fun Advent calendar and the chance to post a letter to Santa Claus in the dedicated mailbox in the square.
Nearby, in Selva di Gardena, the festive atmosphere of the “Nadel da mont” market, also open until January, is expressed through a 350-metre-long ribbon of lights hung with small, beautifully carved wooden cable-car cabins. It brings a taste of the high-altitude slopes to the village, creating a truly magical setting. Naturally, there are also traditional gingerbread biscuits, Advent songs and a distinctive snow-sculpture competition that fills the village with captivating white works of art.
At the properties, while younger guests enjoy the rich programme at ADLER Dolomiti’s AKI Kids Club, adults can surrender to a moment of genuine relaxation in the pleasantly heated indoor pool with whirlpool features, which opens outside onto an enchanting panorama, or in the saltwater pool, where hydromassage envelops the body in a restorative experience, encouraging purification and skin care. Particularly captivating are the lakeside saunas, a small jewel of wellness and design reached by a wooden walkway. Here, the enveloping warmth of the bio-sauna, Finnish sauna and steam bath encourages guests to slow down before retreating to intimate relaxation rooms overlooking the quiet spectacle of snow settling on the lake’s surface.
In the evening at ADLER Dolomiti, the welcoming restaurant, with its traditional stube and veranda, sets the scene for a culinary experience combining Alpine traditions, Mediterranean aromas and international influences, with recipes showcasing fresh, seasonal local produce. On Christmas night, the magic continues with a dedicated menu that promises special moments at the table too. At ADLER Balance, meanwhile, the pleasures of dining meet the chef’s creativity and elegance in a menu that uses exclusively local ingredients to reinterpret South Tyrolean food culture with a focus on lightness and culinary exploration.
For a sweet finale, ADLER’s artisan panettoni are available as a delicious reminder of the impressions and flavours of Christmas in Val Gardena, or as a refined gift to share with loved ones back home.
ADLER Dolomiti
ADLER Dolomiti stands in the centre of Ortisei, a well-known and charming village in the heart of Val Gardena, with convenient access to the “Dolomiti Superski” area. Founded in 1810, the five-star property has the largest wellness centre in the Dolomites, covering 4,000 square metres, with an exclusive, award-winning spa, and is the perfect place for a restorative holiday of luxury and complete relaxation. Drawing on centuries of hospitality, it welcomes guests into refined yet familiar surroundings with a carefully considered, rich and varied offering including ADLER Spa, indoor and outdoor sports and sophisticated food experiences. Set in an extensive 8,000-square-metre private park in a beautiful panoramic location, the resort evokes the beauty and forms of a castle. Inside, Val Gardena style blends seamlessly with charming international design.
ADLER Balance
ADLER Balance, a resort with a medical spa, stands in the centre of Ortisei and is connected by a corridor to historic ADLER Dolomiti. Built according to bio-architecture principles, the five-star resort welcomes guests aged 14 and over in a quiet, refined and exclusive setting. It is an ideal place to bring body, mind and spirit back into balance during a holiday dedicated to restoration, wellbeing and complete relaxation, with access to ADLER Med services supervised by a qualified team of doctors and professionals. Targeted programmes are available for prevention and diagnostics, stress management, weight loss and nutrition, detox and aesthetic medicine. Alongside its health services, the property offers ADLER Spa, indoor and outdoor sports and refined gourmet cuisine that is creative, light and easy to digest.
Sources and images: ADLER Spa Resorts & Retreats / Goodwill PR press release. Photo credits in captions. All image rights are reserved by their respective rights holders.
