Once a former residence of Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio, Villa d’Este was transformed into a luxury hotel in 1873 and will celebrate its 148th season this year. The hotel has become a favourite destination for Royalty, Hollywood legends, musicians, writers, and discerning travellers.
Villa d'Este: 148 seasons...
Once a former residence of Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio, Villa d’Este was then transformed into a luxury hotel in 1873 and will celebrate its 148th season this year. The hotel has become a favourite destination for Royalty, Hollywood legends, musicians, writers, and discerning travellers.
Immersed in the centuries old park of Villa d’Este are four splendid villas, which can be rented by guests who wish to enjoy all the services of the hotel combined with the exclusivity of a private villa. Two of the villas, Villa Malakoff and Villa Cima, have recently undergone a renovation, with the latter designed by one of Italy’s finest fabric and design houses, Loro Piana. The refreshed interiors respect the elegance and tradition of Villa d’Este, while complementing the hotel’s signature shade of cardinal red, with a palette of contrasting French blues, teals and silvery taupe. The villas range in size, from an intimate couple’s hideaway in the Mosaic House, to Villa Garrovo, which has space for up to thirteen guests, offering the perfect setting to host larger groups of families and friends for special occasions.
Dining at Villa d’Este..
Villa d’Este’s elegant Veranda restaurant serves refined Italian cuisine rooted in tradition, whilst The Grill offers traditional Mediterranean meals with views over the park. Il Platano Restaurant opens during the summer months, serving creative dishes in a casual yet intimate atmosphere. The Sundeck Bar is available for snacks and light lunches in the summer months. Guests are also encouraged to accompany the Chef to gather herbs and fresh vegetables from the “Chef’s garden” and can perfect their own culinary skills at the Villa d’Este cookery school.
For guests wishing to explore Lake Como, Villa d’Este can arrange an exciting set of excursions for guests to partake in. These range from exclusive visits to nearby villas, to privately guided walks, hikes and cycling tours, for those hoping to make the most of the Italian outdoors. Notably, Villa d’Este can organise charming boat excursions to picturesque villages on the lake, such as Bellagio and Tremezzo. The hotel also owns an exquisitely hand-crafted traditional Vaporina boat for truly special occasions. The Aero Club Como on the lake is the oldest seaplane school in Europe, where guests of Villa d’Este can book scenic seaplane tours of the striking surrounding landscapes.
To book your Villa d’Este experience, visit villadeste.com