There are holidays, and then there are holidays. Part of the enjoyment of traveling abroad or visiting other countries is experiencing the history and culture of a region. The holiday is a journey through time and is an educational experience, as well as, a sensory one. When traveling abroad being able to take that trip in an imaginative and unique way only adds to the pleasure. Staying in a palace hotel enables the visitor to not only have a posh and sensual experience while on holiday, but also to review history from the perspective of those who made it. The Grand Hotel Bella Tola in Switzerland , the Palazzo di Varignana in Italy, and the Landgoed Oldruitenborgh in the Netherlands are all fine example of where history, luxury, and intrigue can all be combined for the holiday of a lifetime.
Grand Hôtel Bella Tola
This former palace resides in the picturesque Val d’Anniviers within the French-speaking region of the Valais. This tiny mountain village and the Grand Hotel Bella Tola are not only picturesque and aesthetically pleasing, but they also represents a slice of time; the lifestyle and culture of late 19th century that was so important to defining Swiss culture. The current owners have restored and upgrade the guest rooms, dining room, and the hotel lounges to better reflect the charms of this long-gone age, but also in a way that meet modern hotel requirements.
Palazzo di Varignna
This tiny Tuscan palace outside of Bologna was the former home of the Bentivoglio family. Count Orazio Bargenelli commissioned this small palace in 1705 as a country estate. The Villa Bentivoglio, has become the focal point for the Palazzo Varignana Resort & SPA. The resort is elegantly appointed, set in 20 hectares of parkland, overlooking the hills of Varignana. It is not only an excellent example of the typical 17th-century Tuscan country residence that dotted the rolling hills of this gorgeous region, but a gorgeous setting for a relaxing country vacation experience.
