One of the most beautiful single trails in Ticino winds its way around the Val Colla above Lugano and passes through the hilly woodlands of Malcantone to the impressive Monte Tamaro. 

It soon becomes clear why Christian wanted to wait until late in the day before setting off on our bike ride: in the golden afternoon sun, the flowers on the sweet chestnut trees are lit up like strings of fairy lights, with hundreds of “little lanterns” lining the branches. The old sweet chestnut trees on a hill near the small village of Arosio are the strongest and biggest in the whole of Ticino. 

The "Casa Santo Stefano" quickly made a name for itself as a yoga retreat. And because yoga is all about physical awareness and mindfulness of nature, the decision to turn the hotel into a cycling hotel as well as a yoga retreat was a logical one. The fact that no fewer than four of the best bike routes in Ticino pass through the region around Monte Lema played to Angeli and Christian’s advantage.