The Hotel Bella Vista has watched over the Stelvio Pass for over 150 years, sitting in the heart of the National Park. This destination in Trafoi has become one with the environment, a symbiosis that just grew closer thanks to an expansion project by Matteo Thun & Partners. The structure is a perfect extension of its natural setting, reinforcing its identity as a family hotel and a mountain hotel. The original inn served as a stopping point for carriages crossing the pass when the road was built for military purposes in the 19th century.
A Family Legacy
The one who seized the change and laid the foundations for the hotel was Ludwig Ortler, a name unknown to most. The story changes when we add that he was the great-grandfather of Gustav Thöni, who entered the history of Italian and international sports as one of the greatest skiers of all time. Today, Gustav Thöni manages the Bella Vista along with his daughters and grandchildren. The idea of a family hotel starts with the owners themselves: a place shaped by six generations of a family whose origins lie in this valley and this very spot.
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It is natural, then, that one feels a sense of warmth and welcome, a feeling of “being at home.” The expansion project brings this past to life in a new light. The historic structure, with its 26 rooms, has been restored to its original colors, drawing from postcards of the 1920s and ’30s. Alongside it stands the new wing, which includes 24 new suites and a large wellness area. The new wing is configured as a light and organic structure, formed by materials and glass that create continuity between inside and out. It is a characteristic “nest” structure, directly inspired by those of the eagles that soar above the Park and its glaciers.
Nature as a Source of Health
The design creates a 360-degree sensory journey. Every space, every detail, creates a dialogue with nature and its dimensions. The song of birds, the view of the peaks and their meadows, and the continuous flow of the Trafoi River fill the rooms. The heart of the wellness project are the four pools, true places of contemplation and immersion in the environment: from the “Canyon” Infinity Pool, a 92-square-meter infinity pool suspended over the Trafoi Canyon, to the more intimate “Panorama” Infinity Pool, and the areas dedicated to families with a children’s pool and a baby pool.
The wellness area includes five different sauna experiences, in addition to an outdoor panoramic sauna. This sauna is positioned next to a small natural lake fed by a spring that originates directly on the property. To complete the offering, there are two panoramic outdoor jacuzzis, yoga and fitness rooms, and three treatment cabins, including a wellness suite with the famous “Lavasca,” designed by Thun himself.
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A Home of Gold
The new and historic structures find a point of connection through the new reception and the quintessential social space: the “Home of Gold” lounge bar. This space represents a “piazza” for meeting and relaxation, with two large, full-height windows, diametrically opposed, that create a constant flow of light. The name “Home of Gold” alludes to the celebratory desire that accompanies this space. Here, the career of champion Gustav Thöni is on display: hundreds of his trophies, books dedicated to him, historic images of the “Valanga Azzurra” (Blue Avalanche), and the four large crystal globes accompany visitors on a journey through space and time.
It is precisely at the “blue hour,” just before sunset, that this small museum offers its magic. When the light hits the cups, they create sparkling effects of gold, silver, and bronze that pervade the environment. Gustav’s story continues along the stairs, where a sequence of display cases holds dozens and dozens of memorabilia from his long sporting history. The interior design, by architect Christina Biasi-von Berg of Studio Biquadra, dialogues with the genius loci. Local and natural materials were favored: Alpine woods (Swiss pine, fir, oak), local stone, natural materials carried by the Trafoi River, and fabrics inspired by Alpine tradition. The realization of the project also involved artisans from the region, strengthening the bond with the territory.
