Hotel Elephant

Hotel Elephant: Stay in a hotel with a great history and distinctive characterIn 1550, King John of Portugal decided to give a “big” gift to the Emperor Maximilian II of Austria, so he purchased an elephant in India, shipped it to Genova, then planned to walk it to Austria. This giant elefant grew weary about the time it reached Bressanone and was stabled for weeks at the Villa Am Hohen Feld . Young and old came from far and wide to see this Elefant. The proprietor of the Villa was obviously a master at marketing: to maintain the fame of his establishment, he promptly renamed his hotel—you guessed it—the Elephant. A picture of the elephant was painted on the front of the building to commemorate the sensational event. But even without an elephant story this hotel is a winner with its old-fashioned charm. The sitting room, hallways, and dining rooms (three cozy rooms) incorporate antiques, museum-quality paintings, and magnificent paneling. The Elephant is also well known for its good food—fresh fruits come from the adjacent walled garden where you also find the swimming pool and an old home that has been converted into very nice bedrooms