Carved into the Langhe hillside above Santo Stefano Belbo, the seventeenth-century monastery that became Relais San Maurizio is so thoroughly enveloped by Moscato and Barolo vines that the aerial view makes the buildings seem less like architecture and more like a natural outcropping of the landscape. The conversion preserved the monastic bones — barrel-vaulted ceilings, terracotta floors, stone fireplaces in blackened marble — while layering in the domestic warmth of a Piedmontese country house. Guest rooms across the complex's several interconnected buildings range from vaulted chambers furnished with gilded mirrors, Persian kilims, and wingback armchairs in burnt sienna to lighter, neoclassical-style rooms with grey-painted carved headboards, velvet cushions in blush and sage, and tall draped windows looking out over the vine rows. The elliptical pool pavilion visible from above — an arched arcade in painted render that sits low against the slope — is the one contemporary gesture on the property, its mosaic-tiled basin framed by woven daybed loungers and dark rattan sun chairs against an uninterrupted Langhe panorama. The dining terrace extends from the main house on a timber deck, orange-clothed tables shaded by white cantilever umbrellas, the undulating vineyard hills of the UNESCO-listed Langhe-Monferrato-Roero landscape rolling to the horizon in every direction. The effect is closer to a working estate that receives guests than a hotel that has dressed itself in rural costume.

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Relais San Maurizio is a unique, unforgettable place. Refined and romantic, it is the ideal place for a true time of wellness, relaxation, soothing the senses and the spirit. An unexpected, happy discovery. The frescoed halls, the 31 rooms with unique decorations, the gardens and the park with centuries-old trees are all truly enchanting. The large outdoor swimming pool at the top of the hill provides a 360° view of the surrounding landscape. The hotel is also home to the Michelin starred 'di Guido da Costigliole' restaurant and the exclusive 'La Via del Sale' Medical & Beauty SPA. It is a partner of the Relais & Chateaux chain.