Madness or Vision: 300 Million Francs for a Village in Graubünden
An entrepreneur from Ticino is transforming a forgotten mountain village in Graubünden into a year-round destination. What sounds like a crazy idea is taking shape. The numbers are impressive, the signs are promising, and the heart of the project has been bubbling up from the mountain for millennia.
Stefano Artioli won over San Bernardino GR not with plans, but with capital. The 65-year-old entrepreneur from Ticino has already invested 100 million Swiss francs. The mountain railways are running again, the renovated Hotel Brocco & Posta is welcoming guests, and the Hotel Ravizza will open its doors in December. Now comes the next phase.
With the luxury spa resort Acuforta, Artioli is planning a 200-million project that will put San Bernardino firmly on the tourism map for the long term. At its heart is a thermal and wellness center spanning over 2,000 square meters, complemented by mineral baths, indoor and outdoor pools, and a range of health and wellness treatments. A five-star hotel operated by an external hotel group, serviced vacation apartments, and a new parking garage round out the complex.
Water with a History
The idea behind the project is older than the village itself. The mineral water of San Bernardino was already known to the Romans. The physician and naturalist Jakob Scheuchzer described the spring as a healing spring in 1717. At an altitude of 1,605 meters, the water emerges from the mountain after a journey of up to 30 years through the rock layers. The historic spring house is to be restored and converted into a water museum. Artioli is thus combining tourism, identity, and natural heritage into a single offering.
300 Jobs for Misox
The project’s significance for the region can be quantified. Today, 50 to 60 people work in San Bernardino during the summer, and 90 to 100 during the winter. If all the projects in the master plan are implemented, a total of 300 jobs will be created in seasonal and permanent positions. For Misox, this represents a structural change, not merely a tourism upgrade.
A second Andermatt?
The comparison is hard to avoid. Artioli is banking on private investment from his own funds, staying power, and a clear goal. San Bernardino is intended to operate year-round, not just during the snowy winter months. With a total investment of up to 300 million Swiss francs and 1,500 planned beds, an ambitious resort is taking shape in southern Graubünden. Whether it becomes a second Andermatt will be decided not by the investor alone, but by the guests who come.