Special distinction 2005

A special distinction was given to the Albergo della Posta in Astano in 2005 «for the respect of the history of the house and the loving care in the Ticino hotel tradition.»

The former postal building of Astano in the Malcantone valley, was turned into an inn in the second part of the 19th century, then, in 1906, into a boarding house. In the first half of the 20th century, the famous Ticino photographer Eugenio Schmidhaus-Zanetti (1872-1952) bought the hotel. In 1964, the dining room was added and the landscaped gardens with their terraces, pergola, and swimming pool were redesigned. In 1984, the owners also purchased the adjacent estate, on which the Ticino architect Dolf Schnebli constructed an annex. The furniture stems mainly from the antique interiors of the house. There is also a highly fascinating fireplace from the early 19th century. The philosophy of the hotel moves the history of the building center stage. The Mediterranean gardens with bushes and palm-trees are the highlight of the entire complex.