Over the centuries Ticino has always succeeded in uniting Art and Nature, but few places have grasped the profundity of these ties and thereto moulded an entire landscape as Collina d'Oro, a well-known municipality of Lugano. This exclusive setting provides the backdrop for Park Hotel Principe, which is surrounded by woods that offer an extravaganza of multiple colours and perfumes in every season. An ideal destination for families and young adults and for anyone who enjoys being at one with nature, outdoor sports, bike trips or walking - from dawn to dusk in one of the most beautiful corners of Switzerland. The go-to place for anyone who feels the need to get away from the stress of the city and day-to-day life at any time of the year. Park Hotel Principe is the best place for recharging your batteries. It is also the preferred choice of those who travel in the company of their four-legged friends. Park Hotel Principe's 38 guestrooms are all pet-friendly and are filled with light, spacious and have a large balcony or garden. The gold-and-blue Classic Rooms or the Modern Rooms, in warm earthy colours, have views of the grounds and the large swimming pool or of the woods and Villa Principe Leopoldo's own vineyard. Each room offers all the usual hospitality amenities, plus the W-LAN codes necessary for free Web browsing. Restaurant Cafe Leopoldo welcomes guests from the 1st May to the 31st September and offers the choice of dining inside, in an attractive frescoed room, or outdoors under the gazebo next to the lawn surrounding the beautiful open-air swimming pool. The sumptuous, sweet and savoury breakfast buffet and the varied lunch and dinner menus are served by the unfailingly attentive, helpful and smiling staff. An "after hours" menu is also available to satisfy any requests and, above all, to make guests feel at home. Sport A fully-equipped fitness suite, open all day, is available for guests who prefer to workout on their own. However, those who prefer a tailor-made fitness regime can ask for personal trainer Frank Giordano, an expert guide for outdoor activities or for gentler yoga or Pilates sessions. The tennis court is available for booking in fine weather, plus a tennis coach for adults, teens and children. The swimming pool is open all day and qualified lifeguards are in attendance. Only ten minutes by car separate the hotel from Italian-Switzerland's oldest golf club. Founded in 1923, the club boasts an 18-hole course of over 5,657 metres surrounded by birch trees, oaks and umbrella pines. It is considered an extremely difficult course because of the numerous water hazards and the rather narrow fairways. Twenty other golf courses in Ticino or Lombardy are all within an hour's distance. Leisure Just a few minutes by car from Lugano's old town centre, the hotel is the ideal base for exploring the area. The numerous leisure trails include an interesting walk focused on Hermann Hesse, who chose Collina d'Oro as his residence when he lived in Switzerland. The route touches on the places that were particularly dear to the poet and ends at the Hermann Hesse house museum, the only Swiss museum devoted to him. In less than 60 minutes by car you can be in Milan, the fashion capital. Or if you prefer to stay in Ticino the nearby Fox Town Outlet Center in Mendrisio offers the top labels at the best prices. Families will have a lot of fun at the enormous Splash & Spa water park at the foot of Monte Tamaro. The thrilling water chutes and the large, luxurious spa mean the park is a paradise for children and adults alike.
