BEAUTY: Interior--Michele Bonan's Heidelberg Suites

World renowned Florentine architect and interior designer Michele Bonan bought a series of late 18th century villas in the city of Heidelberg, Germany and turned them into a glorious hotel called The Heidelberg Suites. Bonan designed everything from the structure down to the chairs and rugs. It is an epic undertaking for a designer to tackle something this huge, and be entirely successful to boot. Bonan says his vision for the hotel was "German Romanticism meets Italian Architecture." The hotel opened in 2008 and has since become a top destination for discerning travelers.

Perched picturesquely next to the River Neckar with a view of Old Heidelberg, the luxury hotel boasts a garden, rooftop terrace and spa. But perhaps the most unique feature of the hotel is the restaurant: it is on the Patria, a completely modernized 1930s yacht which is moored on the Neckar, directly across the street from the hotel. Every Wednesday through Sunday nights at 8 P.M., the Patria weighs anchor for a two hour dinner cruise on the river. The ship sets sail on Sunday mornings at 10:30 for a Mediterranean brunch.

I would love to travel to Heidelberg simply to stay here. I have stayed at another Michele Bonan hotel, the Hotel Continentale in Florence, part of the Lungarno family of hotels, and it was exquisite. Judging by these images and my other Bonan experience, I am sure a stay at the Heidelberg Suites would be spectacular.

Above, a master shot of the Heidelberg Suites location, relative to the city and the river.

Below, a shot of the outside of the hotel.

Above, a view of the spectacularly designed spa.
The next two pictures below: a hallway and stairwell in the hotel.

Above: the Fireplace Lounge.
Below: the Breakfast Room.

Below are three views of the suites.

Below, views of the restaurant yacht, the Patria, on the Neckar.

http://www.heidelbergsuites.com/en/