History & Chronicle

Experience history in a 17th Century Palace

1682	Bernardo Massella, Mayor of Poschiavo, constructs his palace on the town square
1742	Birth of Thomas Maria de Bassus, Baron de Bassus
1766	The Baron de Bassus marries Cecila Domenica Massella (niece of Bernardo Massella) and moves into her palace on the town square
	The palace becomes famous as a meeting point of the Illuminati (an Enlightenment-era secret society) and a centre for political discussion and music
1780	A printing press was installed in the building
1782	The first Italian translation of Goethe’s “Werther” was printed in the building. Many works by Enlightenment era authors and the Illuminati are also printed during these years
1787-1788	The composer Johann Simon Mayr lives in the palace as a guest of the Baron de Bassus
1794	After the death of his wife, the Baron de Bassus moves to Germany where his son is living
1815	The Baron de Bassus dies in Ingolstadt (Germany)
1828	The Baron de Bassus’ son sells the palace to the Albrici family
1848	The palace is remodelled into a hotel. The building’s architecture and details remain intact
Since 1848	The remodelled palace opens as the first hotel in Poschiavo
September 1896	The Italian writer and poet Giosuè Carducci is a guest in the hotel
2004	The Albrici family sells the hotel to the Zanolari family
2004	The hotel becomes a member of the SWISS HISTORIC HOTELS association
2005	Minor renovations to interior spaces and preservation of historic first floor rooms
November 2011	The second floor guest room are renovated to provide full comfort amid the historic setting and antique furniture
November 2017	Andrea Rera takes over the management of the hotel.