Historic charm in a central location
In the heart of the old town
under the Merano arcades
The "Rössl Bianco" begins on the first floor and extends to the airy attic, featuring inner terraces and a magnificent exposed roof structure.
From then to now
In 1745, the "Weiße Rössl" emerged as a tavern under the lower Water Arcades from the depths of history. Nearly 200 years later, during the Fascist era, when the old Tyrolean capital Merano became an Italian provincial town, the "Weiße Rössl" could only be called "Cavallino Bianco." After World War II, it became the bilingual "Cavallino Bianco – Weißes Rössl." By 2018, it was named "Rössl Bianco" – logically bilingual, unique, and a vivid expression of Merano’s reality.
History
How it all began
The story of the "Rössl Bianco" starts in the Middle Ages, when the old Tyrolean capital Merano was enclosed by city walls with four gates, and the arcaded street was the only commercial route from west to east through the town.
Shops, workshops, and inns lined the arcades, while the areas behind, up to the city walls, housed intricate residences with inner courtyards, gardens, and stables. The ancient "Stadtbach," an artificial canal still flowing behind the Rössl Bianco today, provided water and removed waste.
By 1770, Merano had 11 inns, with the "Rössl Bianco" considered the oldest. Around 1920, the well-known painter Franz Lenhard noted: "To the right, under the arcades, stands the 'Weiße Rössl,' the oldest house in Merano, which could become a unique attraction in the hands of a skilled restaurateur and a tradition-conscious architect."
The restoration
Accompanied by building researchers, the restoration uncovered multiple construction phases spanning over 800 years. From Romanesque to Gothic, Renaissance to Baroque, and finally Historicism in the 19th century, the Rössl Bianco preserves traces of all eras.
From decline to revival
Closed in 1974, the Rössl Bianco fell into disrepair, becoming a shelter for pigeons and cats. Sold in 2015, it was carefully restored and reopened in 2018 as a b & b & b by Anna and her team.
