Relais Villa Vittoria
Fall head over heels • Enjoy this slice of heaven in the little village of Laglio with a charming terraced lakefront garden and only 12 rooms. Loved by the glitterati, breathe the calm and secluded air here, where romance takes its cue from an enchanting history of entertaining poets, writers, and world travellers. You will not only fall deeper in love with each other but with every experience offered here. Begin your stay in the luxurious Lakeview Suite Prestige designed in classic black and white with extraordinary crystal chandeliers featuring an antique pink marble fireplace. Enjoy the large bathrooms with a Jacuzzi tub and walk-in shower.
Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como (previously Casta Diva Resort)
Enchantment never sounded this good • Once the home of Soprano Giuditta Pasta, Villa Roccabruna opened as CastaDiva with a spa set on one of the most romantic places on Lake Como, the old boat dock of a former palazzo. The relaxation room at the spa perches on the hillside and juts over one of the moorings allowing guests to experience the peaceful sound of the ocean lapping the blue-green glass floor. Enchantment never sounded this good, the water sings like the estate’s former owner, the rumoured muse of Vincenzo Bellini, a nineteen-century composer.Named after one of her famous arias, Casta Diva, the luxurious villa gets its fairytale on with 75-rooms featuring regal appointments like heavy silk curtains and mirrored closets with gold paint. Located between Bellagio and Como in the enchanting village of Blevio, arrival by boat is the only way here and docks in a cave at the estate’s rocky foundation. White-pebbled walkways ring the elegant grounds, framed with large pine trees. Take a dip in the elaborate floating pool on the lake in front of the property then sample the sweet delicacies offered at L’Orangerie with seasonal cuisine that matches the stunning panoramas of the lake and celebrates the grandeur of life. www.mandarinoriental.com/lake-como/blevio/luxury-hotel
Il Sereno
Modern love • Millennial luxury comes alive at this Patricia Urquiola designed award-winner where the most luxurious of the thirty suites feature The Penthouse, a lake view showstopper with its own private terrace and garden retreat. Why would you ever want to leave your private penthouse? A cruise on the lake aboard two all-wood yachts, also designed by Urquiola, of course. Or hike along forested hills along the lakeshore. There’s also the enticing offerings of Chef Raffaele Lenzi to coax you out with simple, imaginative twists of your favourite Italian classics at Michelin-starred Ristorante Berton Al Lago. And just in case you can’t get enough of the cuisine, partake in a cooking class and wine tasting to bring the region’s romance home with you. Unique interiors feature architecture as art, so everyday design elements bring joy, including gorgeous, sculptural architectural details like the hotel’s Jenga-inspired spiral staircase, a twist to mid-century modern. Botanist Patrick Blanc joined the party to create intricate vertical gardens and awesome sculptures, living works of art––Le Mirroir Vert du Lac, Le Canyon and Les Racines Echasseesm––the world’s only tryptic exhibition of Blanc’s artwork. serenohotels.com/property/il-sereno/
Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Of grandeur and glamour • Under the curation of Enea and Maria Gandola, this century-old landmark came to life at the end of WWI––which brought the idea of the vacation with it. The art nouveau style reflects the period of its construction and leverages the gorgeous setting, which borders on the gardens of Villa Carlotta, one of the best views of the Lake Como. Greta Garbo once mentioned the Tremezzo in the movie Grand Hotel in the 1930s, when the Sampietro family took over, seeing the property through the tumult of WWII.
Today, Grand Hotel Tremezzo follows the fine tradition of the Gandolas and Sampietros by also being family owned. Unleash your inner starlet with a stay at the Suite Greta, inspired by Hollywood’s Swedish-American darling. On the first floor of the palace, the opulent suite features one bedroom, a living room and two bathrooms with marble accents and a central whirlpool bath. The private terrace finds you enjoying stunning views of Bellagio on the water’s edge. Enjoy Sala Regina’s opulent accoutrement including period furniture with blue and gold decor, and ceiling-to-floor windows which allow for stunning views of the lake and mountains. The restaurant’s large terrace provides a great place to host romantic I do. grandhoteltremezzo.com
Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni Bellagio
Playful opulence • Close to the narrow, cobblestone streets of Bellagio, you are a world away at the village’s only 5-star hotel and one of its oldest. This grand dame serves up peace and quiet along with molecular cuisine at Mistral, serving Michelin-starred delicacies at the lakefront. The fun starts with a poolside drink, then continues at Villa Serbelloni SPA and is topped off with a daysail from the private dock––the best way to take in the storied gardens here, particularly when the azaleas are in bloom. Two pools, and tennis and squash courts top off the outdoor fun.
Built as a luxurious getaway for a wealthy family from Milan in 1852, twenty years later the estate opened as a hotel. 19th-century opulence abounds with frescoes, marble columns and staircases, trompe l’oeil, and Murano chandeliers. Ornate ceilings portray floral patterns in light pink hues. Spacious and elegant rooms boast high ceilings and exquisite antiques, including inlaid wooden furniture. Frescos create a dramatic environment as do the white or red marble bathrooms with water views or views of Bellagio. Enjoy a nightcap with the one you love on the outdoor terrace admiring panoramic views of Lake Como at your feet. villaserbelloni.com/Bellagio
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