Relais San Maurizio is a former Cistercian monastery, founded in 1619, on a hilltop above Santo Stefano Belbo, where the Langhe slide into Moscato country. It has been a five-star hotel since 2002, and it is one of the few places in Piedmont where you can sleep under vaulted ceilings, eat in a Michelin-starred restaurant set in the old cellars and spend the afternoon in a salt grotto spa without moving the car. My one-line verdict: arguably the best all-round spa and dining stay in the Langhe, as long as you accept that Barolo is a drive away rather than outside your window.
This article contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read our affiliate disclosure.
Quick facts: Relais San Maurizio
- Location: Località San Maurizio, on a hill above Santo Stefano Belbo, province of Cuneo, Piedmont, in the Moscato d’Asti zone of the Langhe.
- Rooms and suites: published counts differ, from 23 to 36 rooms and suites (see below). Ask the hotel for the current figure.
- Price level: high, with the truffle season in October and November the most expensive time.
- Season: one curated travel guide lists it as open year-round except February, but other listings are unclear. The outdoor pool is seasonal. Confirm 2026 and 2027 dates with the hotel.
- Nearest airport: Turin, about 84 km, so allow roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes by car. Milan Malpensa and Genoa are around two hours.
- Best for: couples who want a spa, a starred dinner and historic character in one place, with wine visits by day.
Check prices and availability
The monastery has only a few dozen rooms, and autumn weekends during the Alba truffle fair sell out early. Compare dates before you book your winery visits.
Location and getting there
Santo Stefano Belbo sits in the Belbo valley at the eastern edge of the Langhe, close to the border with the province of Asti. This is the home of Moscato d’Asti and the birthplace of the writer Cesare Pavese, and the landscape is a patchwork of steep vineyards, hazelnut groves and wooded ridges. The hotel stands above the town in a park that is around 400 years old, with botanical and organic gardens, and the Leading Hotels of the World describes the hill as having around 12 hectares of vineyards. Our guide to Moscato d’Asti explains the local grape.
The trade-off is distance. Alba is roughly 30 to 40 minutes by car, and the Barolo villages around La Morra, Barolo and Serralunga take around 40 minutes to an hour depending on your route. Barbaresco and Neive are closer. Turin airport is about 84 km away, and Milan Malpensa about 135 km; Genoa is the other realistic option at around two hours. Asti railway station is about 27 km away. The hotel arranges paid private transfers, but a car or a driver makes far more sense here. Our Italy travel planner covers car hire and transfers.
The history in brief
Cistercian monks founded San Maurizio in 1619 on the site of an older chapel. In 1862 the estate passed to the Incisa counts, who turned it into a noble country residence. A conservation restoration began in 1997 under sisters Giuditta and Arianna Gallo, and in 2002 the hotel opened as what several sources describe as the first five-star hotel in Piedmont. It is now a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. The chapel still stands in the grounds.
Rooms and suites
Our research turned up contradictory information on the room count. The Michelin Guide and several travel specialists list 36 rooms and suites, while other listings give 31, 29 or 23. It was not clear to us which figure applies today, so confirm with the hotel. Either way, this is an intimate hotel, not a large resort.
Sources agree that no two rooms are the same: the monastery layout means irregular shapes and sizes, from superior doubles to junior suites and suites.
- Character: vaulted ceilings, inlaid wooden floors and classic furnishings. Some rooms have frescoed ceilings, others working fireplaces.
- Outdoor space: some suites have private terraces or small gardens, and some look straight over the vineyards.
- Outbuildings: some descriptions place junior suites and suites in the former stables and the old oil press, which can feel more private than the main house.
- Staff favourites: one curated guide reports that rooms 115, 118 and 119 are the team’s favourites. Ask the hotel what makes them special when you book.
Dining
Food is the main reason many guests choose San Maurizio over newer Langhe resorts. There are two restaurants, a café and a bar.
Il Ristorante di Guido da Costigliole
This is one of the founding names of modern Piedmontese cooking. Guido and Lidia Alciati opened the original restaurant in Costigliole d’Asti in 1961, it first won a Michelin star in the 1970s, and it moved into the monastery cellars in 2002. Today the Alciati family runs it, with Andrea Alciati and Monica Magnini in the dining room and chef Fabio Sgrò in the kitchen. The Michelin Guide lists it with one star, and it was not among the restaurants reported to have lost a star in the 2026 Italy guide. Expect classic Piedmontese dishes, including the house agnolotti del plin, alongside more modern plates; Michelin’s inspectors single out freshwater fish and a glazed eel with kale, and note vegan options too. The cellar, carved out of the old vaults, holds more than 20,000 bottles across over 3,000 labels, with deep verticals of Langhe wines.
Michelin lists dinner from Tuesday to Saturday and both lunch and dinner on Sunday, with Monday closed. Opening days can change with the season, so reserve your table when you book the room.
Origini Bistrot and the rest
Origini Bistrot is the relaxed alternative, set in the former ballroom under frescoed ceilings. It cooks seasonally with vegetables and herbs from the estate’s organic garden. According to a report from April 2026, it is led by Naples-born chef Valentino Palmisano, who spent four years cooking in Kyoto. There is also a Truffle Café for lighter moments, and Bar Hemingway, a wine and cocktail bar in the winter garden, for an aperitivo before dinner.
Check rates at Relais San Maurizio
Spa and pools
The spa covers more than 1,000 m² and is positioned as a medical and wellness spa rather than a simple hotel pool area. It is what sets San Maurizio apart from most hotels in the Langhe, which is why our guide to wine hotels in the Langhe names it the best spa choice in the region.
- Via del Sale: the salt route, with a salt grotto and three pools of different salinity for floating, inspired by thalassotherapy.
- Vinotherapy: wine baths and grape seed treatments, plus a sauna built inside an old wine barrel.
- Wet area: sauna, biosauna and Turkish bath.
- Indoor pool: listed as open all year, which makes the hotel a good choice for autumn and winter stays.
- Outdoor pool: a heated, panoramic pool, open in the warmer months only. Ask the hotel for the exact opening dates if a summer swim is important.
Spa day visits without an overnight stay are possible, so the spa can be busier at weekends. Book treatments before you arrive, especially in October.
Sport and activities
- Tennis: there is a tennis court in the grounds. Surface, lighting and racquet hire are not clearly published, and one listing shows tennis as a paid extra, so ask the hotel.
- Fitness and yoga: a gym, plus yoga sessions, sometimes held outdoors under a 400-year-old cedar.
- Bikes and e-bikes: available to rent, and the Moscato hills are beautiful, if steep, cycling country.
- Pétanque, garden walks and cooking classes: gentle extras, along with botanical sessions in the organic garden.
- Golf: there is no course on site; the hotel lists golf as nearby, so ask which clubs it works with.
Wine
Wine is the real activity. Moscato producers around Santo Stefano Belbo and Canelli are minutes away, Barbaresco and Neive make an easy morning out, and Barolo needs a full day and a driver. Ask the hotel to help organise winery visits; our Langhe wine hotels guide has tips on booking tastings.
What’s nearby
- Santo Stefano Belbo: the small town below the hotel, with the Cesare Pavese birthplace and foundation for literature lovers, and an old-fashioned gelateria or two.
- Canelli: about 10 to 15 minutes away, known for its historic underground wine cellars, part of the UNESCO-listed vineyard landscapes of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato.
- Neive and Barbaresco: medieval hill villages and the Barbaresco wine zone, around half an hour by car.
- Alba: the truffle capital, with the International White Truffle Fair on autumn weekends. Allow 30 to 40 minutes.
- Turin: about 1 hour 15 minutes away, a good first or last night of the trip.
Relais San Maurizio vs other Langhe luxury hotels
| Hotel | Location | Standout | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relais San Maurizio | Santo Stefano Belbo, Moscato country | 1619 monastery, one Michelin star, spa of over 1,000 m² with salt grotto | Spa and wine together, historic character |
| Il Boscareto Resort & Spa | Serralunga d’Alba, Barolo zone | La Rei Natura, three Michelin stars in 2026, 49 rooms | Food-driven trips in Barolo |
| Casa di Langa | Cerretto Langhe, above the Barolo zone | 42 hectare estate, 39 rooms with outdoor space, infinity pool | Modern design and wine programme |
| Castello di Guarene | Guarene, Roero | 18th century castle, about a dozen rooms, rock-cut spa | Romance close to Alba |
In short: read our Il Boscareto review if dinner is the reason for the trip, and our Casa di Langa review if you want a contemporary hotel with Barolo on the horizon. San Maurizio wins on spa depth and on the sense of staying somewhere with four centuries of history.
Who it suits, and who it does not
It suits:
- Couples who want a starred dinner and a serious spa under one roof.
- Autumn and winter travellers, thanks to the indoor pool, salt grotto and fireplaces.
- Lovers of historic buildings who prefer frescoes and vaults to glass and concrete.
- Visitors who want to explore Moscato, Barbaresco and the Asti side of the Langhe, not only Barolo.
It does not suit:
- Barolo devotees who want to walk out into a famous cru each morning.
- Travellers without a car or driver, as the hotel is outside town on a hill.
- Anyone looking for a sleek, minimalist design hotel.
- Serious tennis players, since there is one court and little published coaching.
Charlotte’s tip: split your evenings and your wine days
Book three nights. Keep one evening for Guido da Costigliole, avoiding Monday when it is closed, and one for Origini Bistrot. Spend one day on Barbaresco and Neive, which are close, and save the spa for the afternoon you return from Barolo, when the salt pools are the perfect reset after a long tasting day.
Practical tips
- Booking: for October and November weekends, book months ahead and reserve your Guido da Costigliole table at the same time.
- Best rooms to request: a suite with a terrace or vineyard view, or ask about rooms 115, 118 and 119. If you want a fireplace or a frescoed ceiling, request it specifically.
- Season: the outdoor pool is a summer feature, while the indoor pool and spa work all year. Check for a winter closure, reportedly in February, before you plan.
- Dress: smart casual for the starred restaurant; relaxed elsewhere.
- Kids: some listings mention a playground and childcare, but the mood is calm and adult. Ask the hotel about age policies for the spa and pools.
Check prices and availability
Compare room and suite categories, and check whether your dates include the outdoor pool season or the truffle fair weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Relais San Maurizio have a Michelin-starred restaurant?
Yes. Il Ristorante di Guido da Costigliole, run by the Alciati family with chef Fabio Sgrò, holds one Michelin star and is not among the restaurants reported to have lost a star in the 2026 guide.
How many rooms does Relais San Maurizio have?
Sources disagree. Most list 36 rooms and suites, but others give 23, 29 or 31. Confirm the current number with the hotel.
Is Relais San Maurizio open all year?
One curated guide says it is open year-round except February, and the indoor pool runs all year while the outdoor pool is seasonal. Ask the hotel for exact 2026 and 2027 dates.
How far is Relais San Maurizio from Barolo and Alba?
Alba is roughly 30 to 40 minutes by car, and the Barolo villages around 40 minutes to an hour, depending on the route.
Planning more Piedmont trips?
