The Solaria is, as its name suggests, situated in a sunny location, slightly set back from the road leading through Bivio to the Julier pass which goes down to St. Moritz. BIvio is an Italian-speaking village, but most people also speak German and Rumantsch. The hotel is surrounded by mountains, and is only two minutes walk from the ski lift for winter holidays. The hotel has been owned for three generations by the Torriani famiy, and is currently run with great friendliness and professionalism by GianCarlo and Genni ( who is English but has lived in Switzerland for over 30 years). They combine Italian warmth and excellent food, with Swiss/German attention to detail and pride in everything working well. Nothing is too much trouble, and their motto ' your home from home' is truly accurate. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, most with lovely views. There is plenty of hot water with powerful showers to help with aching muscles after walking or skiing. There is a sauna in the hotel, and wireless hotspots for internet users. The hotel has its own bakery so breakfast always includes fresh-baked bread, buttery croissants, warm rolls as well as eggs, cheese, ham, yogurts, cereals, muesli and fresh fruit. For those on half board ( an extremely good deal ) there is a four course evening meal, usually a mixture of Italian and Swiss dishes, plentiful, delicious and very varied. Genni runs her own riding stable immediately adjacent to the hotel, and a prime attraction is a two or three day ride up through the Roman Septimer pass, down along the valley to the village of Bondo on the Italian border. Riding safe, sure-footed and well-schooled horses, guests can gallop through flower-filled meadows, trot through medieval villages and walk down the mountain surrounded by breathtaking views. A fabulous picnic lunch is brought at midday, homemade apple pies, barbeque pork by a mountain stream, cold beer and wine to assuage thirst as the horses rest under shady trees. Guests stay in the beautiful 17th Century Torriani family home, returning one or two days later by a slightly different route. For those who prefer less riding, Genni offers rides into the countryside surrounding the hotel from one hour upwards. We love this hotel ( and we have been to very many). At the Solaria, we are not alone. A high proportion of their guests are regulars, like us, returning summer and winter because they have not found better quality or value anywhere. If you want a winter holiday where you stay only two minutes from the lifts ( and there are no queues - ever) or a summer holiday where fabulous views, alpine flowers , clear air and sparkling mountain streams are all around - and you return to a 'home from home' -then the Solaria is for you.