Eco-hotel Cristallina

Welcome to the eco-hotel Cristallina in Coglio in the lower Maggia Valley, just 15 km from Locarno a prime location that melts and harmoniously combines the typical Mediterranean freshness with the ruggedness of the Swiss Alps. Cristallina is a great starting point to discover the Magic Valley, in the Italian Alps of Switzerland. The Maggia Valley will surprise you with its variety of landscapes and biodiversity, from palm trees at 300 meters above sea level to eternal snows at 3,000 meters. Whether you fancy strolls or hikes, cycling trips or taking a dip in the crystal clear waters of the Maggia River, the beauty of the valley will enchant you.

We live and work in harmony with nature

Our family-managed hotel begins with a personal and joyful welcome, making you feel instantly at home. Sympathy and kindness are integrated with the peaceful environment and the beautiful scenery that surrounds us.
Aware that Nature is the basis of our existence, we have restored and operate the hotel in an environmentally friendly way and we continually strive to minimize our impact on the environment. We love to share this lifestyle with our guests.
We are part of Nature, and in our relationship with the land we promote activities that highlight the history, culture, gastronomy and the natural beauty of the environs. At the same time we serve as a meeting point for local customers by proposing a range of activities including jazz music, photo and art exhibitions, cooking classes and conferences on topics related to the environment, civil society, culture and free thinking.

Kitchen

We propose fresh products from organic and regional harvests, including from our orchard. We also give particular attention to vegetarian cooking and homemade pastas, which are mainly made with whole grains, freshly ground to preserve their flavour and to guarantee authenticity. Our menu regularly offers ethnic dishes from culinary cultures as far away as India or the Middle East, and accommodates guests with food allergies or intolerances. On request we prepare meals for various types of diets: lactose or gluten free; and dishes for guests who prefer vegan cuisine.
We are part of "Fourchette Verte", a nutritional quality in the field of health promotion and prevention of some diseases (certain types of cancer, cardio-vascular disease, obesity), combining pleasure and health.
Pizzeria
Barbara and Marco, our pizza chefs, will surprise you with typical pizzas and house specialties, such as pizza with whole wheat pasta, pizza for vegans and other specialties with local and seasonal products. Since 2017 we have joined the initiative launched by GastroTicino and Ticino a tavola "Homemade", a project that promotes restaurants who choose to offer customers food prepared, processed and cooked entirely in the restaurant kitchen.

Ecology
The ecology at the Cristallina is considered of primary importance to balance the quality of services offered. We identify ourselves with a natural way of life and we do our best to establish a harmonious and sustainable relationship with nature and its resources.
The Property
During the hotel's renovation in 2002-03, the expansion of the building used prefabricated wood with an internal thermal insulation made from recycled paper panels. The architecture of the building makes optimal use of the natural sunlight thanks to large, energy efficient windows.
The central heating works in wood chips while the sanitary water is produced by a solar installation on the roof, where are also installed 40 photovoltaic panels for production of electrical energy equal to approximately 10% of our needs. The ground floor lounge is equipped with a compensating ventilation system with heat recovery. Most of the beds and furniture are of solid beech and birch coming from FSC-certified forests. For our floors we chose natural materials such as hardwood flooring, native granite and linoleum. The hotel can then boast a healthy environment, manageable with minimum effort and energy with a pleasant atmosphere that invites you to leave behind the routine of everyday life.
Hotel management
Respect for the environment and replenishment of natural resources are of primary importance in the management of the hotel. We also apply social responsibility criteria, favouring job creation and the rights of our employees, the well-being of our guests and culture in all its facets. Our eco-hotel management embraces all spheres, sourcing organic cooking ingredients and, where possible, from local producers, soaps, cleaning products and biodegradable detergents for laundry and rooms, and the promotion of public transport and renewable energy sources.