For over 100 years, Hotel Privata has been in our family’s hands. From the very beginning, historical events have shaped our family business: from the dawn of winter tourism and the construction of Sils’ first ski lift, to my father’s racing successes, and on to our unique regional and Mediterranean Privata cuisine. The passage of time has transformed the original farmhouse into an irreplaceable jewel. Many wonderful stories of guests and family have been written here. For 24 years, I have shaped the hotel with great passion, and for over 16 years, I have led its vibrant daily operations.

Together with our longstanding Privata team, we ensure that Hotel Privata remains a true oasis of peace for our guests and friends.

Cun cordiels salüds
Corina Giovanoli

Hotel Privata was founded in 1921 as 'Pensiun Privata' by my great-great-grandparents Nuot Bezzola and Madalena Bezzola-Barblan, and it has remained continuously in family ownership ever since.

However, the true history of the house dates back to 1630. For 260 years until 1889, it served as a farmhouse. Our current «Stüvetta» was the original farmhouse parlour, the suite on the first floor was the family bedroom, and the fireplace room was the so-called winter kitchen. In our cellars, the ancient vaulted structures are strikingly visible, and the house still contains cupboards and chests from that era, which lend it their timeless calm and strength.

At the time of Privata’s founding, my great-grandfather Samuele Giovanoli lived in the 'La Motta' house in the Fextal as a farmer and one of the Engadin’s first ski instructors. He took up painting very late in life and gained significant recognition after his death as the 'Paradise Painter of the Fextal' and one of the 20th century’s most important Swiss naive artists.

Several of his paintings, exhibited in various shows, can be found in our dining room and corridors.

The first official winter season

After initially operating exclusively in summer, the first official winter season of the Privata kicked off in December 1926. My great-aunt Annigna Bezzola and my grandparents Paula Giovanoli-Bezzola and Arno Giovanoli then took over the Privata with summer and winter operations in 1935.

From the 1950s on, winter sports became more and more popular and in 1953 the first Vanchera ski lift was built in Sils, followed by, in 1963/64 in Surlej, the Corvatsch cable car and in 1973/74, again in Sils, the Furtschellas cable car. 1969 was the year of the first Engadin ski marathon. At the end of the 1960s my father Dumeng Giovanoli also celebrated his greatest sporting successes with 5 World Cup victories, one overall World Cup victory in slalom as well as a silver and bronze World Cup medal.

But, above all, Sils remains a point of attraction for people seeking nature and peace and quiet, as well as for intellectuals and artists. During this time Marc Chagall, who visited us several times in the years 1960 and 1961, painted, among other things, the pictures 'Window picture with bouquet of flowers' and 'The window of Sils-Maria' while staying in the Privata. (Paintings not in the family’s possession)

The typical Engadin sgraffito house inscriptions

In 1973, my parents Dumeng and Ursula Giovanoli took over the Privata and, with extensive investments in the comfort of the individual rooms, further developed the house. In doing so, they never neglected the local tradition of handicraft. For example, the sgraffito house inscriptions typical of the Engadin. This technique is used to decorate facades and living rooms. Way back in 1956, the well-known artist, Giuliano Pedretti created the sgraffiti in the Stüvabella. In 1998 he carried out a further commission in the by then extended dining room. Later the singer and artist Paulin Nuotclà carved the sgraffiti in some of our guest rooms.

During this time, my parents were particularly interested in the development of upscale cuisine and the cultivation of menus influenced by local traditions. Our cooks still use many of the recipes created by my father Dumeng Giovanoli.

The artistic family tradition lives on in my brother Gian Andri. His impressive photographs decorate the house and always show unusual and new perspectives of the Engadin.

A special place where nature, sport, art and culture come together

In 2008 I took over Privata from my parents and am now the fourth generation of the family to run it as hostess, together with an ambitious team. Our goal is to continuously develop the many good traditions and diverse influences that have shaped the house over four centuries, while preserving the special soul of the house.

Pensiun Privata, which has been called Hotel Privata for a few years now, is such a special place where nature, sports, art and culture are combined in a unique way, thanks not least to its guests, who have helped to shape the good spirit of the hotel for almost a hundred years now.

Together with the people who have been with us for a long time and who have helped to shape Hotel Privata, I am delighted to be celebrating a special anniversary in 2021: 100 years of Privata.

2021 - a special year: 100 years of Privata

For the anniversary, the recipe book "tschient ans" was published with 100 recipes by Dumeng Giovanoli and photos by Gian Giovanoli. The edition is limited and not available for purchase. A gift to our loyal guests and friends.

In addition to «tschient ans», the large work «bap&figl» was created. More Infos under www.giangiovanoli.com