Bologna, September 17, 2026 – It has hosted within its walls the great Ernest Hemingway, as well as Hollywood stars like Liz Taylor and Henry Fonda and great royal dynasties, such as the sovereigns of Sweden. The Hotel de La Poste, the oldest hotel in Cortina d’Ampezzo, is about to change hands: the buyer of this true monument to tourism will be Alberto Vacchi, CEO of Ima.
The offer from the Bolognese industrialist – confirmed by sources close to him – is more than concrete and the change of hands is imminent. The final details are being defined, and the closing of the operation is expected in mid-October. And for the Belluno area, it will be the end of an era.
A history of over 200 years
The Hotel de la Poste, in fact, has a history of over two centuries. In 1804, Giuseppe Celestino Manaigo, Postmaster, obtained from the Municipality of Cortina a license for ‘lodging and tavern’ on the ruins of the ancient Church of Santa Caterina where a building was erected, part of which was used as an inn and part as the post office, with an attached stable, thus allowing stagecoaches to stop.
The transformation into a true hotel dates back to the early 20th century, while a decisive boost to its fame came from the 1956 Olympics: from that year, the Poste became a destination for intellectuals, actors and directors, politicians, industrialists, and many families vacationing in the mountains. Before, during the Second World War, Cortina – and the Hotel de la Poste itself, which became its command center – had been occupied by the German army and the surrounding mountains were the scene of dramatic battles.
The hotel symbol of Cortina
The hotel is also known for being mentioned in ‘Vacanze di Natale’ (1983), a cult Christmas comedy film starring Jerry Calà, whose fortieth anniversary was celebrated in Cortina three years ago. Continuing the Mainago family tradition in running the ‘Poste’ today are Michela Esposito and her cousin Gherardo, the seventh generation of entrepreneurs. Awarded four stars, in recent years, the ’Poste’ has remained a reference point for local events, from the Ski World Cup, to the 2021 Championships and the recent Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Among the gems of this structure is certainly the room where Hemingway stayed, which he made his literary lounge among the Dolomites: the author’s original typewriter is still present, making this space a piece of literary history and one of the most coveted rooms in the hotel. Luxury accommodations, of course: booking today online a room for two during the Christmas week of 2026, for example, costs between 380 and 500 euros per day.
Alberto Vacchi’s heritage expands
A piece of history, as mentioned, which now passes from a Venetian dynasty to an Emilia-Romagna one, that of Alberto Vacchi.
He, besides holding the reins of the packaging giant Ima (2.5 billion euros in annual turnover), evidently wants to invest in tourism and catering. In 2019, in fact, he purchased in Bologna the Torre degli Alberici complex and the adjacent premises in piazza della Mercanzia, previously occupied by the legendary restaurant Il Pappagallo.
Now, part of those spaces have been rented to the Zivieri family, who opened a meat restaurant-shop in the heart of the city.
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