Hotellerie de Mascognaz: discreet 5-star luxury

Far from mass tourism and close to the essentials, in the wild and poetic heart of the Ayas Valley, at the foot of Monte Rosa, Hotellerie de Mascognaz inaugurates its first five-star season under the passionate guidance of Giovanna Vitelli. A place where excellence meets authenticity and hospitality is transformed into an intimate experience, rooted in the land and the Alpine spirit. 

It is here that the daughter of Paolo Vitelli – founder of the Azimut|Benetti and visionary restorer of the Walser village – carries on a legacy made up of love for sober beauty, for silence and for the time that expands between the pastures and the peaks.

Mascognaz is not a hotel, but a real high-altitude village with eleven ancient chalets carefully restored, among stone, larch and traditions. It is a charming refuge that lives to the rhythm of the seasons, where in summer you can hear the sound of cowbells among the meadows and the rush of the Mascogna stream' while in winter you can only arrive by snowmobile or off-road vehicle and the isolation and silence make this place unique.

The historic chalets that make up the scattered hotel are the Rascard - or Stadel - the traditional houses of the ancient Walser population, who lived in the Ayas Valley since 1323. These stone and wood architectures represent a unique heritage in the Alps and the living testimony of an ancient culture, which in Mascognaz it is still possible to breathe, respecting the rhythms of the seasons of the past. Each rascard tells a centuries-old story and welcomes you into a microcosm of peace, where luxury is made of intimacy, authenticity and unspoiled nature.

Together with Francesco Barbavara, her partner in vision and life, Giovanna Vitelli has created a new way of understanding the hotel industry: refined but rooted, elegant but never ostentatious. The recent recognition of the five stars consecrates this vision made up of signature cuisine, slow experiences and attention to detail.

Among the novelties of the 2025 summer season, the arrival of chef Veronica Forchielli – a young promise of contemporary cuisine with starred experiences behind her – who interprets the territory with a light and conscious hand: alpine cheeses, game, wild herbs, ancient flours and a zero waste philosophy. His cuisine is mountain poetry.

Summer also comes alive with cultural events, literary walks, concerts among the peaks and screenings under the stars. At the center, the "Bosco Vivo" review: eight experiences led by a resident naturalist who accompanies guests to discover the forest as a space for listening, regeneration and presence. The environmental guide is an integral part of the hospitality, available for meditative walks, forest bathing and silent reflections.

Each chalet is designed as a world unto itself: spa with panoramic views of Monte Rosa, private dinners under the high altitude sky, horseback riding, tastings, wellness treatments with local essences.

This is luxury according to Giovanna Vitelli: a suspended time where you live in contact with nature, away from the spotlight and close to yourself. A perfect balance between the freedom of the sea and the depth of the mountain.

"True luxury is finding places where time slows down and the view opens up" says Giovanna Vitelli. "Mascognaz is all of this: a place my father brought back to life, stone by stone, and one I preserve today with the same love. As at sea, so too in the mountains, the open horizon and pristine spaces hold a profound attraction. This is the philosophy I brought to the heart of Mascognaz: here, the arts of hospitality and culinary excellence create a unique refuge for those seeking authentic experiences".  

In the new boutique, set up in the village's ancient emporium, you can find unique pieces of Valle d'Aosta craftsmanship from handmade hemp fabrics to local essences. Also available is the Hotellerie de Mascognaz cosmetic line, inspired by alpine nature: scents of the forest, mountain flowers, milk and honey for body care in harmony with the spirit of the place.

By the editorial staff, Avion Luxury Magazine

Text source and photos: Azimut Group Press Office|Benetti