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Open year round except February

Imagine having breakfast in a frescoed chapel, to be followed by a bike ride through the greenest hills you’ve ever seen in your life. Maybe you lunch in a quaint village surrounded by vineyards and spend the afternoon floating in a saltwater pool or detoxing in a hot sauna made from former Barolo barrels. And, as the sun sets below the horizon, you think about how it really couldn’t get any better than this, sipping a Moscato Spritz as the hills of Langhe roll into the distance. This is an average day at the family-run, luxury hotel Relais San Maurizio. 

The Relais was born out of a dream, one that began in 1997 when owner-sisters Giuditta and Arianna Gallo’s father, who grew up in the neighboring town, saw potential in the abandoned 17th-century monastery that once housed monks devoted to cultivating herbs, vines, and spiritual balance. “To my sister and I, it felt like a scene out of a Disney movie; it was an enchanting and mystical place,” Giuditta reflects, recalling the years it took to restore the property into the first five-star hotel of the region. “San Maurizio was an act of love, perseverance, and dedication.”

Quiet luxury has been on everyone’s tongues recently, and this is where to really live it. It’s a luxury that isn’t faceless but one with a real sense of place, deeply rooted in the region’s heritage. And the region certainly isn’t short on heritage. Langhe, this lush and hilly slice of central Piedmont, is renowned for world-class vineyards, culinary offerings (white truffles are at their peak here!), and UNESCO World Heritage landscapes. 

At Relais San Maurizio, there are countless ways to engage with this local culture. “We like to build guests’ itineraries around experiences that are strongly linked to our territory,” Giuditta explains. “What really makes the difference are the people we work with and the passion that drives them–from farmers to artisans to wine producers to chefs.” One such person is white truffle hunter Michele, who not only takes Relais San Maurizio’s guests to his secret spots in the woods, but arranges a truffle tasting and aperitivo at his own house; his family has been truffle hunting for generations, and his nonna makes one of the best truffle oils in the region! 

Here, even the design choices allow you to feel the original soul of the place, from the bar, which was once the altar, to the monks’ hand-carved safe that now holds the liquors and vintages and their winepress transformed into a serene fountain. (Though we love every room here, our favorites are 115, 118, and 119.) The frescoed ceilings of the Origini Bistrot, once a ballroom, serve as a reminder, between bites of farm-to-table cuisine, of the grandeur that has permeated the property for 400 years. The bistrot’s produce comes from the hotel’s own organic garden, which also supplies the other on-site dining option: Guido da Costigliole, the first Michelin starred restaurant of the region, where you can taste the ravioli del plin that the Los Angeles Times named the ultimate best. 

Sustainable, slow living, in fact, is woven throughout the property–in line with the self-sufficient, balanced lifestyle favored by its former inhabitants. Take a yoga class under the 400 year-old cedar tree, a botanic class in the aforementioned organic farm, or a stroll through their sweet Moscato vineyards–to be followed by a match of tennis or pétanque in green surrounds. The young ones can also participate in such activities, with creative workshops organized in the floral atelier. 

If you’re looking for a luxurious Piemontese stay with a philosophy of hospitality rooted in authenticity, attention to detail, and a profound connection to heritage (with stunning panoramas to boot) look no further. 

A few segreti (secrets) from Giuditta and Arianna:

Bar la Terrazza da Renza – This local favorite is low-key and laid-back–a large terrace with views for kilometers on which they serve a menu of antipasti only. Of course, they’ve got all the preferred plates of local cuisine, from vitello tonnato to a celery, walnut, and cheese salad. 

La Cantinetta di Barun – This wine bar has a highly curated selection of vintages in a lovely location in the medieval village of Neive. Grab a couple of bottles to bring home or stay for a glass (or two) and mingle with the locals out front. 

Trattoria Enoteca Madonna Di Como – This spot is everything you want from a traditional Piedmontese restaurant. The buttery homemade tajarin is a can’t miss; in October and November, you’re going to want to add the white truffle! 

Bun da Mat – The best gelato in the area comes courtesy of this gelateria in Santo Stefano Belbo. The artisanal production sources high-quality ingredients, local when possible, for flavors like wasabi chocolate, pumpkin, and yogurt, Giuditta’s favorite.