Art and Antiquity: the Soul of the Palace

Art Preserved and Narrated within the Hotel

Art has always found a home in hotels. In the 19th century, hoteliers aimed to create refined environments, furnishing spaces with antique pieces and fine paintings; since originals were often unaffordable, it was common practice to commission copies of important works displayed in museums.

With the support of the Lucerne-based interior decorator Joseph Willimann, Otto Schmid took part in specialised auctions, acquiring furnishings and artworks that still give the hotel’s spaces their distinctive character.

Alice Schmid-Disler, an enthusiastic supporter of many artists, further enriched the corridors by creating the “Galleria degli amici” on the second floor, displaying pieces particularly dear to her.

In 2024, inspired by his grandmother’s gallery, Roberto Schmid gathered the paintings of his maternal great-grandfather into the “Galleria Emil Vogel” on the third floor. Previously dispersed among private rooms and apartments, these works can now be appreciated together within a coherent exhibition space.