Alpine mountain passes are threaded with hairpin bends
in Lombardy, where the great outdoors beckons year round. In the
village of Corteno Golgi, the design-forward Albergo Miramonti hotel serves
up great style (and plenty of cheese) to in-the-know
travellers.

The Italians and Swiss have always known of Lombardy’s charms,
though they remain somewhat overlooked by travellers from further
afield. The region is the definition of the great outdoors, where
magnificent scenery goes from the tips of the Alps down to ice-cold
lakes, traversed by treacherous mountain passes. Couple that with
food that is Italian but meatier and more buttery, and Lombardy
makes for an undeniably wonderful escape year round.

The region is perfect for a road trip which takes you from Italy
and into Switzerland, on a route which circumnavigates tourists and
will give you a taste of rural Italian altitudinal living as you
navigate your way around hairpin bends, stopping off in
quintessential communes as you go. But where to stay? One of the
most design-forward hotels in the region, Albergo Miramonti is a
stylish surprise in the unassuming commune of Corteno Golgi.
Already winning prizes for its aesthetics, this chic bolthole is
the definition of a hidden gem – rest assured that you won’t bump
into your neighbours from back home, or any other British tourists
for that matter.

Rooms

Swoon over a colour palette of dusky teal and eucalyptus green
complemented by dark-wood floors, slate-grey bathrooms and mock
mid-century furniture. Bronze, copper and gold light fittings bring
city sophistication to the mountains, while slate bowl sinks are
the stuff of Pinterest-board dreams.

What’s for breakfast?

A continental breakfast buffet in the wood-panelled ground-floor
dining room offers your usual cereals, pastries, yogurts and
fruits, with added regional extras such as local crispy bacon,
frankfurter-style sausages and nutty cheeses. Get your eggs to
order – if you’re off hiking, you’ll need them.

How about lunch and dinner?

Miramonti’s restaurant is the best in town, serving up rustic
home-cooked fare in chalet-style surroundings. Start with a spread
of locally cured meats sliced paper thin, accompanied by more
cheeses. Next up, tuck into a hearty venison stew with plenty of
mash – this stuff is made for the outdoor enthusiasts who flock
here, and the portions are monstrously big. Wash down with a solid
local red from the surrounding region before staggering upstairs to
collapse into bed.

Is there a bar?

Yes, the ground-floor bar is a popular spot among locals, though
we preferred the upstairs lounge for its stellar whisky collection
and cigar room. Think: dark wood, large leather sofas and a roaring
fire.

Things I should know

The small rooms really are tiny.

Within a short walk I can find…

While Cortena is an excellent launchpad for exploring the
surrounding area, the town itself doesn’t have much in the form of
entertainment. Jump in the car for a scenic hairpin drive down one
side of the valley and up another to go for lunch at Osteria Roncaiola, where you’ll have killer views of
valley, matched by generous plates of top-notch northern Italian
cooking.