After challenging my body in the cold of the ski slopes all day, the pampering that I received at Hotel Rosa Alpina was a bold and beautiful contrast. I can think of no better way to end a big ski day than with a swim, soak, steam, or sauna – or maybe even a massage – followed by a gourmet dinner complete with silky local wines.
The Hotel Rosa Alpina is a deluxe accommodation, with the highest quality of service given to every customer. For this reason, the hotel is part of the exclusive Relais & Chateaux Hotel Association. Only hotels with the strictest standards of guest care are invited to be part of this group. Rosa Alpina also has a Michelin Star recognition. But what I really liked about Rosa Alpina is that despite all of these grandiose titles, it is still a family business with a rich community history.
Rosa Alpina started in 1850 as a parish priest house that the parishioners ran as a small restaurant and inn. San Cassiano town, where Rosa Alpina is located, was important in both World War I and World War II. Rosa Alpina served as a meeting place for soldiers and officers and it was a center for social events. Engelbert Pizzinini purchased the hotel and land in 1940, and his family has run it ever since. I was greeted by Hugo Pizzinini upon arrival.
Rosa Alpina has a really special way of being both rustic and elegant at the same time. Rich decoration on a backdrop of beautiful raw wood makes for an interesting contrast. A fire burns in the fireplace surrounded by comfortable chairs on the main floor, while the basement holds a modern pool, hot tub, sauna, and steam room, as well as the luxurious Daniela Steiner Spa. The rooms are of knotty pine and feel like home, but a trendy bar downstairs has supermodel-types hanging out in it and is definitely a hot spot of Alta Badia. A world-class chef prepares exquisite food, but only after visiting each table to find out what the guests would like to eat and tailors the meal to their liking. But by making simple local dishes, including a variety of local game, the meal is more down-to-earth than snooty.
The price of this divine hotel experience? You don’t want to know. But if you can afford to stay here, whether in winter or summer – you will be happy that you did. For more information, see the website.
Footnote: The Daniela Steiner Beauty Spa at Hotel Rosa Alpina is pure pampering and according to the brochure “escapism through total relaxation.” I don’t know about that, but I enjoyed my 1-hour massage (€70) very much. Examples of other treatments include:
“First Total Cleansing” (full body exfoliation and full body massage – 2 hours - €210),
“Volcanic Clay”(deep cleansing with herbal steam – 30 min - €65), or
“Luxury Facial” (super idratation and firming treatment – 1 hour - €100