Hotels a step away from the stars

Exclusive hotels built in trees or on stilts. Open-air suites among the branches of age-old trees with verandas looking onto breathtaking beauty. Staying in a place surrounded completely by nature, in almost symbiotic relationship, is no longer a fairytale dream. Today niche tourism gives the nod to tree houses: cabins in the trees, rooms with views over leafy fronds, places that offer opportunities for complete relaxation far from the hustle and bustle of the city. For those who love luxury but have “green” sensitivities, these are the ideal places to enjoy a unique and thrilling eco-experience that is characterised by the values of sustainability. Our eco-luxury journey begins in Italy, in the heart of the Maremma near Viterbo, in Arlena di Castro, where the agritourism farm La Piantata offers its guests the opportunity to stay in an exceptional location. The Suite Bleue is the ideal place to unwind. This cabin of 44 square metres made of American red cedar sits 8 metres above the ground on an 800 year-old, 23 metre-tall oak, the oldest in Italy, amongst dense, luxuriant foliage. The majestic oak stands alone in fields of lavender from which sweet-smelling lavender essential oil is extracted. The tree house consists of a double room with fourposter bed, which opens out onto a veranda in absolute harmony and in total synergy with the surrounding countryside. In Black Cabin, another tree house at La Piantata, eco-holidays become chic. This 87 square-metre eco-loft is rigorously high tech. Perched 7 metres above ground, it offers guests an unforgettable night in the shade of a 200 year-old maritime pine, with an incredible 360° view over lavender hills in the foreground and the sea at Tarquinia in the distance. The sophisticated design and careful attention to details have created an exclusive and intriguing environment with a relaxing atmosphere, in an essential and elegant style that cleverly combines nature and technology. Out of Italy, in