Lana, South Tyrol: where to stay, where to eat and the ride up to Vigiljoch
Lana, between Merano and Bolzano, is small enough to walk: an old inn with eight rooms, a spa hotel in the village and a car free house up on the Vigiljoch. Plus gardens and good tables.
Lana lies in the Adige valley between Merano and Bolzano, surrounded by orchards and vineyards. For a few days in South Tyrol it makes a good base, because so much is within walking distance: breakfast at the inn, the pool in the afternoon, the cable car up the mountain. Here are three very different houses from our selection, places to eat and a suggestion for three days.
Where to stay in Lana: three houses, three ways to stay
1477 Reichhalter: the inn in the middle of the village
Café and restaurant downstairs, eight rooms upstairs. 1477 Reichhalter stands on Metzgergasse in the pedestrian zone. Architect Zeno Bampi and interior designer Christina Biasi-von Berg reworked the old inn; the rooms differ in layout and are named after people from the history of the house. There is deliberately no television.
The house has no spa of its own. Guests use the spa at the partner hotel Schwarzschmied, about 300 metres away, free of charge.
Schwarzschmied: pool, yoga and food under one roof
The family run Schwarzschmied is on Schmiedgasse, with 68 rooms and suites across the main house, a garden wing and the Residence, according to its press kit. The outdoor pool is 20 metres long, heated all year and faces the vineyards. There is also an indoor pool, saunas and yoga several times a day; bikes are available in the house.
At the restaurant La Fucina, Andreas Pircher cooks with vegetables, fruit and herbs from the hotel's own Arnica field. By day the Bistro Luce serves small dishes.
vigilius: no road, only the cable car
No road leads to vigilius. You take the cable car from Lana up to the car free Vigiljoch, at around 1,500 metres. Owner Ulrich Ladurner and architect Matteo Thun built the house from larch, glass, natural stone and clay under the motto “Eco, not ego”. There are 35 rooms of 36 m² and six suites of 72 m².
For hotel guests the cable car runs extra trips until 11 pm. Parking at the valley station is free, according to the hotel. If you want to eat down in the village most evenings, staying in Lana is easier.
The Vigiljoch: a day without a car
A day up there is worth it even if you are not staying. Paths lead off in every direction, more than 100 kilometres according to the cable car operator. An old single chairlift runs up close to the little church of St. Vigil. By day, the Stube Ida at vigilius serves South Tyrolean dishes and has a sun terrace. In the evening Restaurant 1500 cooks regional and seasonal food under Daniel Sanin, with views over Lana and the valley; non residents need a reservation. For the spa, book a day spa, from age 12.
Where to eat in Lana
1477 Reichhalter serves breakfast, a small seasonal lunch menu and dinner by Andreas Heinisch, open to everyone; its restaurant page lists Monday to Saturday. La Fucina at Schwarzschmied serves dinner; ask the hotel whether non residents can book. For a different kind of evening, Pfefferlechner has its own brewery and tavern cooking; check closing days first.
In neighbouring Tscherms you find Kränzelhof, with gardens, art and wine, tours and tastings as currently offered, and the restaurant Miil with seasonal cooking and wine. The two make a good afternoon together; book a table at Miil in advance.
A detour to Bolzano
Bolzano is an easy trip from Lana. In the middle of town stands Parkhotel Mondschein, a sister house of Reichhalter and Schwarzschmied, with a park of about 1,500 square metres. The Luna restaurant, the Luna Bar and Alto Pizza, entered from Bindergasse, all belong to it. For beer from its own brewery there is Batzen Häusl; outside town, in Siebeneich, you can tour the Kornell winery.
Three days in Lana: our suggestion
Day one: arrive, have breakfast at Reichhalter, spend the afternoon at the pool or in the lanes. Day two: over to Tscherms, the gardens at Kränzelhof, dinner at Miil. Day three: take the cable car up to the Vigiljoch, walk, have lunch at the Stube Ida. If you want dinner at Restaurant 1500, sort out the ride back down when you book.
One note for planning: the restaurant at Reichhalter is closed on Sundays, according to its website. Plan somewhere else for that evening and check all opening times before you go.
