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The best hotel in the world was built by a pope. Regularly, the accommodation was visited by one of Italy’s most famous opera composers.
Reported CNN, quoted Wednesday (25/10/2023), Napoleon Bonaparte and Winston Churchill once lived and walked through its grounds. It could be said that Hotel Passalacqua was always destined for great things.
On September 19 in London at the confirmation World’s 50 Best Hotels, the hotel on Lake Como was named number one. The judges, a team of industry experts, chose to favor the 24-room family-owned property over one run by a well-known brand.
There are thousands of luxury hotels around the world but only one Passalacqua. Silvio Vettorello, general manager, attributed the win to three unique attributes.
“Meraviglia (wonder) a place that fits the imagination. Storia (history) of an 18th century mansion that is so easy to feel at home. And the famiglia (family), there are 100 extraordinary people who every day do their best to provide a miracle for the guests,” he said.
Passalacqua Hotel (Photo: CNN)How to build a world-class hotel
Passalacqua opened its doors in 2022 after a three-year restoration. The owners, the De Santis family, also own the Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Como which is famous for its floating swimming pool on the lake.
Antonella Mallone and Paolo De Santis left it to their 41-year-old daughter, Valentina De Santis, to open the property. The CEO of their company, Valentina, is responsible for returning it to its former glory.
He said every detail was close to his heart. Such as precious marbles from Carrara and Verona, spectacular chandeliers from Barovier & Toso in Murano, Venetian mirrors and luxurious Beltrami wood grain bedspreads.
There are seven hectares of terraced gardens overlooking the lake, meticulously maintained and complete with the soothing sound of a fountain. Guests spend their time here having drinks, taking in yoga, or relaxing by the pool decorated with vibrant vintage prints from Milan brand La Double J.
“When you go through the front gate, you enter a different world — one you may not want to leave,” De Santis said.
“It’s quiet and private, yet it’s just steps from the bustling Moltrasio Village. Opening the door and wandering through the halls you’ll be transported to grand rooms and views of centuries-old Lake Como,” he added.
“You have a beautifully painted ceiling with a cloud full of gods and goddesses looking up at you. But one of the most pleasant surprises is the stone-lined underground tunnel that leads from the villa down to the lake. It is full of mystery,” he explained.
Hotel Passalacqua (Photo: CNN)What it felt like to be there
In 1787 Count Passalacqua, from a local noble family, acquired the villa. With regular train rides as well as concerts, it quickly became a huge playground for the aristocracy.
In 1837, Vincenzo Bellini, a regular visitor to the villa, composed the opera “La Sonnambula” (The Sleepwalker). They make it seem as if you can hear the echo of Bellini’s melodies.
That is Passalacqua’s mantra through the present, it provokes thought and connects you to another place, another time.
From check-in to check-out, the hotel strives to delight the senses. Local imagery can be curated by the concierge, hand-cut flower bouquets appear, meditation and massage are always an option and there’s a culinary program led by chef Alessandro Rinaldi that celebrates classic Italian dishes.
There is an open kitchen for guests to pop in and out of throughout the day grabbing snacks or engaging in baking or cooking. And many more.
De Santis could talk at length about the splendor of the villa. Although he is quick to confirm that every hour here is something special, he admits that for him there is nothing better than the morning.
“That’s when breakfast is served in the style of a large Italian country house in the summer. The smell of delicious coffee as you walk into the kitchen, mixed with the aroma of marmalade crostata (like a jam tart),” he explains.
Passalacqua didn’t coin the term villeggiatura, a romantic 18th-century villa turned into a luxury hotel perfect for exhaling and leaving worries behind.
Of course, all this luxury comes at a price. Rooms without a lake view are priced from 1,300 euros or IDR 22 million per night or 1,700 euros or IDR 29 million for a view in November.
Next summer, rates will rise to 2,300 euros for a standard room without a lake view, or 3,200 euros for the cheapest room with a lake view. Suite prices start at around USD 5,000 per night. Luckily, the price includes breakfast.
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2023-10-25 16:05:17
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