With almost 40° degrees outside, we decided to take a break and visit one of the most "cool" hotel in the world.
Welcome to the Lumilinna Snow Castle of Kemi by the Gulf of Bothnia in Finland.
It's for sure a different experience given that every year the hotel is build brand new! Indeed in spring the hotel melts down so next winter the owner waits until the temperature is at least -7° and, using sea water and snow pipes, he makes the snow, (because the natural one is too soft) and he creates a new one. The colder the weather is, the better the snow will be.
New SnowCastle will be opened on January 26th 2013 and if you want to stay there it's better you book your stay as soon as possible given that the hotel can be used just for few weeks before the hot temperatures destoy it all over again. In the SnowHotel 18 rooms for doubles / singles and two group-rooms with five beds as well as a Honeymoon Suite.
Great light-effects will add a romantic touch to the charm of the snow as well as sculptures an decorations made of snow and ice.
The hotel has a Snow restaurant with an IceBar where you can enjoy both hot and cold drinks and a snow chapel too where it's possible arrange wedding, christening or other church-related events. So you can eat and pray in an extraordinary and unique place.
During the SnowCastle-season there are weekly events and during the week-ends there will be pre-arranged concerts and magic performances.
So take your best coat and the sledge and book an unforgettable vacation!
Friday 3 August 2012
The snow hotel
Monday 30 July 2012
Not(t)e di Gusto
Put together a midsummer night, a sophisticated and delicious menu, classy music and the entertainment of one of the most famous cosplayers in Italy and you'll get… a "Not(t)e di Gusto" to die for!
The event is for friday, August 10th, 8 pm at our hotel.
Class, music, fun and everything to satisfy your palate, which will certainly be delighted thanks to a menu that will not leave anyone dissatisfied:
After a refreshing welcome drink our guests will enjoy:
- Sfoglie of Fried Polenta with Spicy Avocado and Shrimp Salad
- Corn flour Stelline with Green Apple and Smoked Trout Tissues
- Risotto with Radicchio from Monte Veronese
- Slices of Irish Beef with Arugula and Grana flakes
- Mixed Forest Sauté, Potato Cake and Bool Polenta
- Caffellatte and corn cookies
- Sbrisolona by tradition
- Coffee
All accompanied by wines selected from a prestigious wine cellar.
Tradition and modernity wisely combined to create a unique and irresistible path. As a background to the evening there will be the refined presence of a classical string quartet that will accompany each course and will lead you to the grand finale, the exciting launch of the flying lanterns…
An exceptional guest will liven up your evening. Andrea Nocini, famous journalist from Verona in love with sports, will introduce us to his latest literary effort: "Campo Inclinato" (literally: Tilted Field).
Queen of the evening will be instead the fascinating cosplayer Giorgia Vecchini, who will transport you to a magical world.
It's not too late to take part in what will surely be a night to remember. It is possible to book one of the few places that still remain by calling: +39 045 7363440 or by email to booking@hotelmontemezzi.it
Do not miss the chance, let yourself go in a very special night.
Friday 20 July 2012
Bed and breakfast for naturists
Seaside, mountain or lake, every holiday is the same old story: the dreaded luggage!
Am I taking too many clothes? Or are they few? Elegant or casual? Is it gonna be cold or hot?
And this becomes a significant problem if you travel by plane and you have to respect the limits of size and weight per bag.
Not to mention the return journey, full of souvenirs and new purchases that inevitably you never know where to put.
At last the idea of a lovely Swedish lady has worked out all of these problems: she has opened the first bed and breakfast for nudists!
Guests can now leave behind any unnecessary frill such as clothing and enjoy a stay in touch with nature.
Strolls to admire the flowers and animals, sea bathing in the near beach, a greenhouse and even golf: you'll be really spooled for choice in how to spend your days in freedom. Not to mention the SPA and technology with free WiFi access.
These are the characteristics of the B&B "Hylteberga Gàrd Naturist", near Skurup, in southern Sweden, facility operated by a couple, Eva and Steffan, who will welcome you with a fragrant freshly baked cake and… completely naked.
No specific prohibition of wearing clothes, even the "dressed" customers can stay in the quiet of the Gàrd which, with only 4 rooms, also offers the needed privacy and customer care. Beware thought, who knows which manners could rub off on you!
The only recommendation is to schedule your vacation during the summer. Swedish winter is definitely not suitable for naturism.
Wednesday 11 July 2012
Contest: “Funny Travel with your family”
Summer means sun, sea and holidays. And the holidays bring photos. Capturing a happy moment and detail of our lives to share it with friends and family is one of the little pleasures in everyone's life.
And it is to share with many people these moments of happiness that the blog "Mamma Giramondo", in collaboration with our hotel, has launched a photo contest named "Funny Travel with your family."
Joining is very simple: just upload a picture portraying a fun time in your family holiday on the board of the Hotel Montemezzi Facebook page, entering in the description "Mammagiramondo" and the title chosen. Then send an email to both mammagiramondo@gmail.com and marketing@hotelmontemezzi.it with your data and the title of the photo, et voilà, you're done. (Here's the complete rules)
And, as in any contest worthy of the name, there's also a nice prize… the winning picture will in fact become part of the collage that makes the cover image of the Hotel Montemezzi Facebook page and, in return for the provision of service and as recognition of personal merit, the winner will receive a free coupon for a 2-night stay in the Hotel's Funny Room, including a gift ticket for a theme park of their choice among Movieland, Parco Natura Viva, Parco Sigurtà or Gardaland, which will be delivered upon arrival at the hotel!
The contest will end at 23:59 on July 30, 2012, do not wait until the carriage turns back into a pumpkin, show us your idea of fun before it's too late!
Thursday 5 July 2012
Verona: a tour of the city. Unusual places
In the last post we mentioned the landmarks which you can not miss during your visit. This time we'll talk about some places a little more unusual and less traveled, though as beautiful as the others.
Out first destination are the so-called "Arche Scaligere", funerary monuments of the greatest rulers of the family that ruled over Verona. They are located next to the church of Santa Maria Antica, near the Piazza dei Signori. The most important (and first in time) to be buried in one of those graves was Cangrande (1291-1329), just the one to whom Dante dedicated the Paradise for the kindness which he received from him during his exile from Florence. Other successors are today in these monumental decorated sarcophagi, impossible to miss them!
Another place to remember is Castelvecchio. Built between 1354 and 1357 by Cangrande II della Scala to protect his court in a tumultuous period of war, over the centuries the castle has undergone several shifts of use, first as an arsenal and barracks, then as a prison, until in 1923 it became the museum that we know today. In our day it's in fact the Civic Museum of the city of Verona, an art gallery and library.
Connected to Castelvecchio by the amazing Ponte Scaligero, there's the Austrian arsenal, built between 1840 and 1861, different from the Habsburg era buildings it resembles a Romanesque Revival medieval castle. It's built on an area of 62,000 square meters, and consists of separate structures for warehouses, stores and workshops, all immersed in lush green vegetation.
Only ten minutes from the Arena, there is a magic place that takes the visitor back to the calm and tranquility forgotten in today's life: Giardino Giusti. The first part goes back to the 15th century and, over the centuries, has been expanded and enriched with fountains, acoustic grottos, a maze of hedges among the most ancient in Europe and an avenue decorated by cypresses, at the end of which a ladder leads you to one of the most breathtaking view of the city.
These are just some of the magical places that are enclosed in this beautiful city. Many others are just waiting to be discovered.