How do you celebrate New Year’s Eve? Comfortably at home or surrounded by many people at a party? This New Year’s Eve is a premiere for me because for the first time it is a quiet and hopefully very relaxed evening for two instead of a big celebration.

The last months were very turbulent and now I am looking so forward to the week in Piedmont and the return to Sagna Rotonda. Moreover, another special highlight is the visit to our newest partner hotel, Locanda Mistral which also lies in the Maira Valley.

Hotel or apartment – why not simply both?

Some days ago, I have already told you here how special New Year’s Eve is at the Sagna Rotonda in Piedmont: Because already now the small eco-village is completely snowbound! Actually, it is closed in winter and only opens from Christmas to New Year’s Eve. The guests are picked up by Giovanni in the next village and are brought up to Sagna Rotonda by snowmobile and then there is just one thing on the program: Slow down and enjoy the breathtaking nature!

The Maira Valley has really impressed us last time so we immediately started looking for further green pearls there – and we have made a find: Locanda Mistral lies not far at the valley end. Here, Renato and Manuela Botte have altered two old farmhouses in a small however fine hotel with 14 rooms.

While Renato, who has worked as a mountain guide for twenty years, introduces his guests to the untouched nature of the valley in winter and summer, Manuela is responsible for the culinary delights for the guests: typically Piedmontese, typically Occitan, everything is sourced regional with local ingredients, partly from the own bio-garden. I have heard so much about Manuela’s culinary skills, I can hardly expect to try her tasty food!

Pure Nature – what else do we need?

For both accommodations nature is in the foreground, meaning that there are no fireworks at New Year’s Eve. Instead, we will be surrounded by untouched nature, maybe once again enjoy the silence, have a look at the stars and be happy about the natural miracles.

I will tell you anyway about my experiences 🙂

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