The history of the Hotel Nessi originates with a middle-class couple with great dedication to their family. The Nessi family lived in the quiet village of Ronco Sopra Ascona and consisted of Silvia, the wife, Federico, the husband, and their three children: Sara, Natalie and Paride. Mum Silvia and dad Federico decided to build their house in a quiet place to avoid the hustle and bustle, with the well-being of their children in mind. Federico was a great fan of prestige cars and in 1980 he built a service station with a garage to display his luxury cars. In 1986, Federico made a significant decision: to move his service station across the street. This fact would soon mark the history of the entire family. Federico and Silvia have always cultivated the value of family, deciding to create tailor-made opportunities for each child. For Paride, they gave him the chance to create his own garage, as he too had a passion for cars, while for Sara and Nathalie, the latter trained in the hotel business, they created the possibility of working in a hotel, building one especially for them, the prestigious Garni Nessi in Via Varenna
Nathalie was in charge of welcoming guests, while Sara took care of the small bar opposite the reception. For the realisation of this ambitious project, Mr Nessi turned to the architect Cavadini, with the support of the lawyer Mariotti and the great building contractor Michele Barra from Ascona. Thus was born a three-storey building with six rooms and six holiday flats, which became a landmark in the heart of Solduno. The opening day in 1987 was a celebration for the finalisation of the project together with family and friends!
The years passed and the children of the Nessi family carried on the hotel project with great dedication to make the family father Federico Nessi proud. In 1989, Federico, determined to further expand the hotel, again collaborated with architect Cavadini and impresario Barra. The addition of two more floors transformed the hotel into an even more welcoming place. Mr Nessi, fixed on seeing the project realised, even approached the mayor of Ascona, Mr Aldo Rampazzi, to obtain the necessary building permits. Eventually, with great effort, Federico managed to raise the Garni Nessi to an impressive height of 21 metres
It is said that Natalie was really well liked by her customers, so much so that she created many regulars and a very good relationship with her neighbours. But, in the year 2002, her daughter Natalie went through a tough time. Running the hotel alone proved to be quite a challenge, and the Nessi family faced years of hard work and growth in the hotel market and in the Locarno area. In those years, another member of the Nessi family, Federico's brother, Luciano Nessi, joined the family. As Luciano was a cook, he helped in the kitchen and brought the garden near the swimming pool to life with his barbecues.
In the meantime, Federico had the top floor added, in order to create a home for the family close to work, as the connections between Ronco Sopra Ascona and Solduno were not easy in those years, and given the importance of supporting Nathalie in running the hotel. The work continued to increase and was no longer so easy to manage, so Federico and Silvia decided to ask for help from an experienced salesman and industry expert.
At that time, Mr Paul Singh entered the scene, who with skill and determination made the hotel work well and maintained the standard required by the hotel world. Mr Singh became so deeply attached to the Garni Nessi that he decided to look after it until his retirement. From a start in 2008, his dedication lasted 14 years, until 2022. He too always ran the hotel well together with his family. Paul was mainly in charge of room sales and room management, while his wife Marta always helped her husband with breakfast and room cleaning. For several years at the reception, the Singh couple's youngest daughter, Maya, was involved in the daily life of a hotel after completing her commercial apprenticeship. It is said that Paul thanked his staff at the hotel a little in the English way: with a well-deserved break at 5 p.m., a nice hot tea and biscuits all together.
At Garni Nessi, we can still find Tatyana Markova, who has been employed as a floor cleaner for 11 years, and Ankica Soljic, who has also been employed as a breakfast server for 15 years.
As of 2023, Garni Nessi has experienced a new chapter in its history. Now passionately managed by Sheila Citriniti, under the supervision of Mr Marcel Krähenmann, owner of the Boutique-Hotel La Rocca**** in Ronco sopra Ascona and director of the Parkhotel Emmaus in Losone, it is now under the "La Rocca Living Hotel Group" also created after the acquisition of the Hotel Nessi. This new management has brought fresh energy and new perspectives to the now renowned Hotel Nessi.
Its history, which began with the passion of Mr Federico Nessi, is now intertwined with the expert hands of those who continue to carry on his legacy. Hotel Nessi has become a place not only of hospitality but also of continuous evolution and affection for its community and the guests who stay there. In addition, during the winter of 2023, the hotel underwent a major room renovation project, even adding new categories to maximise comfort for all types of guests.
