It is with a light touch that Florian and Petra Fink refurbished the medieval building that houses their new hotel and restaurant, in the South Tyrolean town of Bressanone, or Brixen. That is to say, the architects enlisted to peel back the layers from its most recent incarnations as a butcher shop, post office and coppersmith, finished the job with almost ascetic restraint.
This seems apropos. The townhouse has been a Fink family asset for more than 125 years, but centuries ago, it likely functioned as a monastery. Original ceiling frescoes uncovered in some suites by local practice Asaggio, have been restored to exhibit vibrant traditional hues.
Elsewhere, the architects have played up the arcade architecture with smooth archways, heavy wood doors and a deep, round oculus in the ceiling of the underground spa, with its Roman-style thermal baths.
Photography courtesy of The Aficionados
Photography courtesy of The Aficionados
Photography courtesy of The Aficionados
Photography courtesy of The Aficionados
Photography courtesy of The Aficionados
Photography courtesy of The Aficionados
Photography courtesy of The Aficionados
Photography courtesy of The Aficionados
The Finks have kept their hotel small and peaceful, carving out nine guest rooms with wispy neutral-toned furnishings, deep window seats and lime wash on the old stone walls. The unspoken rule is that these are havens for total relaxation, between outings to the local cathedral or the Plose massif.
In the evening, the Losterkuche restaurant takes advantage of a long vaulted space and courtyard to showcase a monastic-themed plant-based menu of raviolis and root-vegetable tartares, prepared with local produce and served with South Tyrolean wines. Traditionally, dinner would be preceded or followed by a stroll through the arcades and alleyways of Brixen, though spa and sleep tend to override even the least demanding plans.
Visitors can book via the website or through the Aficionados hotel collection.
