Ashtanga Yoga in the Dolomites
08.11.2026 - 12.11.2026
| 4 nights
from 1050,- € per person
Stories carved into design
ADLER’s architectural heritage
Wood-carved eagle heads, stately sculpture and intricately chiselled wooden panels – these eye-catching architectural details have long been the hallmarks of ADLER Resorts & Retreats. Powerfully eloquent and entirely unique, they pique the curiosity of many of our guests. What is the story, and the meaning, behind those shapes? Let’s find out…
These decorations hark back to the creative work of renowned Austrian architect Clemens Holzmeister, who designed the central wing of ADLER Dolomiti in Ortisei in 1926. Looking at the historic hotel’s bar and façade, a keen observer will spot enigmatic animal heads and fine ornaments carved into the woodwork. What inspired Holzmeister to create these motifs remains to this day a fascinating mystery.
Nearly a century later, with the construction of ADLER Alpe in 2014, his work was revisited and reinterpreted in a contemporary vein. The aim was to create something unique, starting with the building’s design. This ambition could not have been fulfilled by traditional Alpine architecture, nor strict minimalism. The solution was to build an innovative timber structure enriched with artistic details designed to conjure emotions and excite the imagination while still leaving room for interpretation. Do the eagles on the gables represent the ADLER group itself? (ADLER means “eagle” in German). Perhaps. Are the dragon heads a nod to the Dolomites’ rich tapestry of legends? Maybe. Mystery has its own charm.
The same approach informed the architectural design at ADLER Ritten, with its many artistic details to be uncovered. Each has its own story to tell, sparking visitors’ curiosity and inviting them to discover.
These carvings, the work of local artist Markus Delago, act as silent storytellers. Blending architecture, nature and mythology, they imbue the building with a poetic soul that is felt, as much as seen.
A truly unique design feature – the first of its kind – are the decorated wooden panels specially created for ADLER Spa Resorts & Retreats. The print patterns are inspired by a single detail from a living-room rug, captured by the camera of architect Hugo Demetz. What emerged from this inspired idea is an intricate architectural element, crafted with extraordinary precision by South Tyrolean specialists. The motifs and colours selected for ADLER Sicilia echo the sun, sea and lush vegetation of the Mediterranean.
Nearly a century later, with the construction of ADLER Alpe in 2014, his work was revisited and reinterpreted in a contemporary vein. The aim was to create something unique, starting with the building’s design. This ambition could not have been fulfilled by traditional Alpine architecture, nor strict minimalism. The solution was to build an innovative timber structure enriched with artistic details designed to conjure emotions and excite the imagination while still leaving room for interpretation. Do the eagles on the gables represent the ADLER group itself? (ADLER means “eagle” in German). Perhaps. Are the dragon heads a nod to the Dolomites’ rich tapestry of legends? Maybe. Mystery has its own charm.
The same approach informed the architectural design at ADLER Ritten, with its many artistic details to be uncovered. Each has its own story to tell, sparking visitors’ curiosity and inviting them to discover.
These carvings, the work of local artist Markus Delago, act as silent storytellers. Blending architecture, nature and mythology, they imbue the building with a poetic soul that is felt, as much as seen.
A truly unique design feature – the first of its kind – are the decorated wooden panels specially created for ADLER Spa Resorts & Retreats. The print patterns are inspired by a single detail from a living-room rug, captured by the camera of architect Hugo Demetz. What emerged from this inspired idea is an intricate architectural element, crafted with extraordinary precision by South Tyrolean specialists. The motifs and colours selected for ADLER Sicilia echo the sun, sea and lush vegetation of the Mediterranean.
Inside ADLER Alpe, the totem rising from the ground floor up through the stairwell standing twelve metres (nearly 40 feet) tall is truly jaw-dropping. This impressive work of art by Val Gardena artist Adolf Vallazza – who was already 90 years old at the time – is a triumph of elegance and expressive power, crafted from sun-weathered wood etched by time. Like a guardian spirit, it watches over guests staying on the iconic Alpe di Siusi plateau. Adolf Vallazza is regarded as one of South Tyrol’s most prominent contemporary artists, his works featuring in prestigious galleries and exhibitions worldwide.
We have shared only a glimpse of the stories carved into our woodwork. On your next ADLER stay, you are invited to discover the rest first-hand. Let your imagination lead the way as daily life softly fades into the background.
We have shared only a glimpse of the stories carved into our woodwork. On your next ADLER stay, you are invited to discover the rest first-hand. Let your imagination lead the way as daily life softly fades into the background.