Lake Como, not exactly lacking stunning hotels, has another unique location to offer since the summer of 2022. For the Passalacqua, one of the most spectacular private lake-side villas was turned into a grand retreat with 24 suites during three years of restoration work.
The historic villa was built in the 18th Century by Count Andrea Lucini-Passalacqua and already hosted illustrious guests such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Vincenzo Bellini or Winston Churchill. The restoration was all about celebrating the great Italian baroque style of the villa. The frescos were carefully restored and hand-blown glass chandeliers were mounted.
The restoration and decoration works were done by local craftsmen and small, traditional Italian workshops. Barovier & Toso, a Venetian company from the 17th Century, known for their impressive Murano glass chandeliers, was responsible for the lighting. Just as impressive: More than 20 kinds of Italian marble was sourced from stone pits in Verona and Carrara to decorate the baths – among them, the unique Breccia Pontificia that is also used in the Vatican and that looks more like art than like stone.
A homage to Italian craftsmanship
Architecture
Felice Soave (original building)
Interior Design
Giocondo Albertolli (original building)
Design
Barovier & Toso, Il Bronzetto, Fortuny, Barbini, Beltrami, Rubelli, Bottega Conticelli
