Villa Arnica
Villa Arnica is a vintage-styled retreat set within picturesque gardens that brings together the nostalgia of the Slim Aarons era with the concept of “Dolce Vita”.
The perfect mix of city life and tranquility.
What is the story behind the Kuntino Suites, what was your inspiration to create it?
The house used to belong to several families. My father has bought small parts of the house over the years and as of 2015 the house is fully owned by us.
We had this idea to make something special, something a little bit different to preserve the building’s architectural heritage. The house is about 800 years old and was left empty for around 50 years.
We started our project in early 2016 and opened the Kuntino Suites for the first time in June 2019. The house was renovated with a lot of love and sweat. It was very important to us to preserve the charm of the past — almost all of the walls are in their original place and we retained all of the ceiling decorations. Sometimes it was difficult to do this but we’re happy now that we did. In some suites, there are old tiled stoves, stucco on the ceiling, old banisters and much more. We also picked up a lot of old furniture that was around the house and pieces found at antique fairs.
A year and a half after we opened Kuntino Suites, during Covid, we opened the bar downstairs. Our idea was to create a place where people could experience the city as the Meranese do.
How would you describe the atmosphere and interior design of the Kuntino Suites?
During the restorations, we worked with an architect and an interior designer and I would describe the style as a bit Nordic. Because the walls are a bit curved, it was difficult to buy anything off-the-shelf, so all of the kitchens were custom-made by a friend of ours. Many of the furnishings and decorations we found at flea markets and we’ve opted for just a few high-quality things rather than a lot.
Many of our guests comment about how quiet the Kuntino Suites are, despite being in the middle of the city. Because the apartments are big, you feel as though you are at home, with your own kitchen and space to move around.
To you personally, what is so special about the Kuntino Suites?
The Kuntino Suites offer the amenities and services of a traditional hotel but allow you to experience life like the locals. So much history has been preserved in the building — a lot of different people have lived here in the past and I think that makes it special.
The house is located in an 800-year-old arcade house in the center of the Merano arcades. Downstairs we have a bar that can seat around 40 people inside and 50 outside. On the left-hand side, there is a long corridor that leads up to the reception area where we have a big chandelier. We have nine suites in total, which range from 40 to 75 square metres and some with a balcony or terrace.
On the first floor, there are five apartments, two of which overlook via Portici, two others overlook the courtyard and one of the five suites is set across two floors and is located in the heart of the house.
On the second floor are four apartments. Two overlook the via Portici and feature more antique furnishings while the two overlooking the courtyard are more modern.
You can hear a lot of birds singing in the morning, so you don’t feel like you are in the middle of the city.
Stylish suite with view of the Merano/Meran arcades and the following amenities:
• Bedroom with double bed, recamier and TV
• Living room with sofa bed, dining table, and comfortable reading nook as well as TV and historical oven
• Kitchen with dining table and bench
• Spacious bathroom with shower, toilet, and bidet
Spacious suite with view of the Merano/Meran arcades and the following amenities:
• Bedroom with double bed and desk as well as separate living area with sofa bed
• Living room with well-preserved historical ceiling, pull-out sofa, kitchenette with dining table, and TV
• Kitchen with dining table
• Spacious bathroom with bathtub, double washbasin, toilet, and bidet
• Separate day toilet
Inviting suite on two floors (internal window ) with the following amenities:
• Wardrobe, sofa bed, TV, kitchenette, and dining table in the lower living area with historical arches
• Bedroom with large wardrobe and make-up corner, cosy niche for storage, and spacious bathroom with shower, toilet, and bidet in the upper living area
Charming suite with a balcony around 6m², view into the inner courtyard, and the following amenities:
• Sleeping area with double bed, dressing room, and access to the balcony
• Living area with sofa bed and TV, separated from the sleeping area by a metal-glass partition wall
• Kitchenette and cosy dining area
• Bathroom with shower, toilet, and bidet
Beautiful suite with balcony, view into the inner courtyard, and the following amenities:
• Sleeping and living area with double bed, sofa, TV, and day toilet
• Wardrobe with desk
• Kitchenette and cosy dining area
• Bathroom with shower, toilet, and bidet
Dreamlike suite with view of the Merano/Meran arcades and the following amenities:
• Entrance area with a bench
• Bedroom with double bed and TV as well as an adjoining bathroom with bathtub and toilet
• Second bedroom for one person
• Living room with sofa bed, TV, and oven as well as kitchenette, bar and cosy dining area
• Bathroom with shower, toilet, and bidet
Stylish suite with view of the Merano/Meran arcades and the following amenities:
• Bedroom with double bed and TV
• Adjoining bathroom with shower and toilet as well as a separate living area with single bed
• Living room with sofa bed, TV, kitchenette, and dining table
• Bathroom with shower, double washbasin, toilet, and bidet
Cosy suite with a balcony around 8 m², view into the inner courtyard, and the following amenities:
• Sleeping area with double bed and wardrobe as well as access to the balcony
• Living area with sofa bed, TV, and dining table, separated from the sleeping area by a metal-glass partition wall
• Kitchenette
• Bathroom with shower, toilet, and bidet
Magnificent suite with a terrace around 17 m², view into the inner courtyard, and the following amenities:
• Bedroom with double bed, TV, and separate dressing area
• Living area with sofa bed, TV, and dining table
• Kitchenette
• Bathroom with shower, toilet, and bidet
Included in the rates are everything you would expect at a high-end hotel, including towels and linen, plus daily cleaning. We also provide plates, cutlery and coffee machines in the kitchens so you don’t need to bring anything.
Someone is always available to offer restaurant or activity recommendations. Guests also enjoy 10% off for their breakfast at the bar and 10% off at our two shoe shops in Merano.
Our café is open from Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Our late risers can have their breakfast all day long. We use local products and try to make as much homemade as possible. Our classics definitely include our Smashed Avocado Toast, Pancakes and our Smoothie Bowls.
The following services are included in the nightly rate:
The region offers many things to do as you are close to the mountains as well as the lakes of Northern Italy. It’s the ideal place for outdoor lovers and active people.
In the immediate vicinity, you can do all sorts of activities. It doesn't matter whether it's hiking or simple walks, or playing tennis or swimming. You will find everything your heart desires in a few minutes.
I would recommend visiting the Botanical Gardens as they are among the most beautiful in the world, and I would also recommend exploring the Passeggiata Lungo Passirio. You can go by train to dine in Algund or visit one of the beautiful huts in the mountains. The surrounding lakes are also worth visiting.
It’s also very easy to reach the surrounding valleys which each have their own charm. There are also three great ski areas close-by. Meran 2000 is right above Meran and only a 20-minute drive away.
From Merano, there are so many places within 30 minutes, whether you want to go hiking, cycling, horseback riding or play golf.
Our favourites:
Our Aparthotel is in the middle of Merano. Meran has a wonderful Mediterranean climate as it’s located at the foot of the Texelgruppe mountains. When you leave the property, there are restaurants within 10 metres and a Michelin-star restaurant around one minute away. Nearby is a parking area and a taxi rank while the train station is just one kilometre from the property.
Most of our guests who come by car end up leaving it in the parking area as you can go everywhere on foot. If you want to go into the mountains, it’s easy to take the bus, which is very close by.
Spring and fall are probably the best times to visit as it's very warm and incredibly beautiful. Many of our guests enjoy springtime as we are blessed with already warmer temperatures and everything blooms a little earlier.
The summers are hot and perfect for a hike in the South Tyrolean mountains. The winter feels a certain calm and you can still spend a lot of time outdoors due to the mild winter.
And December is also beautiful because we have a Christmas market and at the beginning of November, there is an international wine festival. We closed for two weeks at the end of November and from mid-January to Carnival.
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