Berghotel Ladinia Corvara

Berghotel Ladinia is one of Corvara’s first inns – as can be seen by its licence number, No. 1 – and was founded in 1930. The man behind this project was Cesco Kostner – someone responsible for changing the destiny of hundreds of farmers in the area. His ideas and values can still be felt in the rooms of the inn to this very day. A toast to this farsighted man never goes amiss. Cheers, Cesco!

The cuisine follows the natural flow of the seasons. The recipes are a homage to the Dolomites and the Alps, favouring simple yet delicious dishes. When ordering bales – that’s Ladin for dumpling – you’ll get a plate uniting the best of tradition and experimentation. Words can only do so much. Come and visit us to experience a relaxed ambience while savouring delicious food.

The rooms are simple, yet they have all you may wish for: plenty of natural light and an intimate ambience. Cosy rooms which are just waiting for you. Spring water from the Dolomites from our taps, and the carpets, textiles, wardrobes, pillows, and furnishings all have their own ancient story to tell.

All you need to do to hear them is sit down and, well, listen. It may be the oldest inn in Corvara, but there’s a positive, lively energy in the air. Every nook and cranny holds a surprise, one which delights every guest who sets foot here.

Berghotel Ladinia is unique for many reasons – indeed, you can swing by whenever you want, and not just during peak season in summer and winter.

We open our doors in spring, when the crocuses start popping up across the meadows, and we close for a well-deserved rest when the larches start shaking off their lighter green capes and wear brighter colours. The Dolomites off-season are truly a sight to behold!

THE HISTORY
We take a step back in time, all the way to 1930, when Cesco Kostner decided to turn this small home into a guesthouse. The first in the village, as evidenced by its licence – a proud No. 1.

One of the oldest buildings in our small village, boasting a view of Mount Sassongher, the inn is where the past – gently, discreetly – slips in through the cracks of time into our present day.

Our wooden floorboards sigh and whisper with every step you take, the few decorations have that otherworldly look, enhanced by the sunlight sweeping in through the windows, creating a delightful, intimate ambience.

Time stands still, at ease and in no rush to move anywhere else, thank you very much. So much so we consider this more than a Casa – a home – and see it as a sanctuary for body and soul. And the Costa Family works day in, day out to preserve this magical, ethereal setting.

ROOMS & SUITES
Our thirteen rooms, where timber and wood panels take centre stage, are all very cosy. We decided to name them Dolasilla, Lujanta, Moltina, and Sommavida in homage of the main characters of the Ladin legends.

These women were princesses and queens of the legendary Fanes Kingdom. While they’re all snug, intimate rooms – typical of Alpine and Ladin mountain homes -, they’re not all the same: some have double beds, others twin beds, and we even have single beds for solo travellers.

Our inn, as beautiful as it is, has one major limitation: its spaces aren’t child friendly. To offer the best experience possible for everyone, we’re happy to welcome families with children aged 10 or above.

DINING
Mouth-watering cuisine: breakfasts, South Tyrolean aperitifs with Speck, and a limited dinner menu based on traditional recipes made with local ingredients. We prefer to work with local suppliers, after all. Our chef, Aldo, interprets the menu according to the season, adding that pinch of creativity which never goes amiss.

Also, the wine list thinks small. Small local wineries producing small quantities of bottles. We offer authentic oenological gems that come partly from South Tyrol, partly from other parts of Italy according to the criterium: less is more. There is no shortage of champagne, again offered by a small company that works with great heart.

MOUNTAIN BAR & CAFE
Alessio is the young innkeeper at the helm of the Ladinia, and he’ll welcome you with a smile to the inn’s café and bar. At loss for words? No worries: Ladin, Italian, German, and English are spoken here – and a bit of Dutch courage will have us all speaking French and Spanish, too!

A melting pot of people, languages, and culture, where hospitality and a good glass of wine or an Italian espresso create unbreakable bonds between our guests, the village, and the mountains.

You can always order a coffee or cappuccino first thing in the morning, a nice cup of afternoon tea in the Stube, and an aperitif in the evening – with live music every Wednesday.

But you can do so much more at the Ladinia: read a printed newspaper – yes, remember them? – play a boardgame, or have a chat while savouring a refreshing beer or other local beverages, including red and white wines.

What more could you wish for? Why, Alessio’s warm smile and impeccable innkeeping skills of course! He may be young, but he was born to be an innkeeper.

ACTIVITIES & EXPERIENCES IN SOUTH TYROL
The air up here is different, so much so that time seems to flow at a slower pace. The sun seems to shine brighter, and the rain doesn’t bother us all too much when we’re sat in the warm and cosy indoors.

The snow has an even more magical quality here, and the fields burst in an explosion of colours, as do the larches which cover the land. The Ladinia is more than a physical place: it’s an experience, a fantastical realm where everyone can experience the Dolomites and all four seasons up close.

THE SPRING
As the snow melts, nature slowly awakens from its slumber. Spring in the Dolomites is a sweet song that fills ramblers and hikers with joy. The last, stubborn patches of snow seem to hint to the flecked hides of the grazing cows that will soon roam across the fields.

Snowdrops rise from the white blanket of snow, and the brooks flow with that bit more energy towards the bottom of the valley. Even the trees come back to life, those with bare branches putting leaf in a matter of weeks, flowers popping up there and across the balconies of the village’s homes. And the sun shines down on our Ladinia. Come make unforgettable memories with us during spring.

THE SUMMER
Long, days, filled with a soft light which, as the day progresses, grows slowly warmer, until the sun dips behind the mountains, casting its light across their rocky walls and lighting them up in a rainbow of colours.

Summer is finally here, with its scents, flower-filled meadows, the forests teeming with life. Summer at the Ladinia is all about tapping into that vital energy, letting all the cares in the world fade away. Live summer to its fullest: explore the land on foot, bike as much as you want, and take in the spectacle that is nature.

THE AUTUMN
Many people don’t appreciate autumn for all it is: they simply see it as a season filling in the time between summer and winter. Oh, how wrong can people be. Autumn in Corvara and the Ladinia is all about intense colours and emotions.

Pink-hued mountains at sunset, and larches donning colourful outfits are all united by the musical silence in the air. The area is calmer, quieter and the Ladinia comes across as even more genuine, being one of the few hotels open in this period.

A veritable sanctuary for body and soul. Autumn is ideal for walking, exploring the woods, cycling, and eating good food here at the Casa. The Stuben are nice and warm, you can order infusions and teas, and the aperitifs are simply divine. All that’s left is to wait for a magical dinner.

THE WINTER
The ski slope right on the doorstep of our Casa. A white, soft blanket covers everything, and all is in place for days filled with skiing in a succession of ascents and descents. Others opt for a snowshoe trek to explore the magic of winter, while skating enthusiasts twirl to their heart’s content at the ice rink.

In other words, there truly is something for everyone in winter. And as soon as darkness falls, you can replenish your batteries and pamper your body and soul in a warm, cosy environment, sipping a hot chocolate or savouring a heart-warming meal.

Website: www.berghotelladinia.it

Rooms: 14

Price: from 226 EUR per night