Nestled in the lush, forest covered hills of Italy, on the bank of Lake Como lies the breath-taking Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni. The independent, family run resort is truly a breath of fresh air when looking for luxury holiday accommodation. The villa dates all the way back to 1872, and is steeped in Italian history and culture; with its high ceilings, stone balconies and crystal chandeliers, the detail and opulence of this magnificent hotel cannot be over stated.
The hotel is set in traditional Italian style gardens, that are only enhanced with the view of the glistening blue lake that lies just below the Villa. Marble staircases, period tapestries, and walls onto which are painted scenes from ancient myths are all to be enjoyed liberally at this classically nineteenth century hotel.
To top off the incredible interior, and one of a kind exterior, the hotel has also just been awarded the prestigious, and highly sought after title of 2019 Number One Resort in Italy by the Travel + Leisure Word’s Best Awards, in an event held in New York City.
As if that wasn’t enough, the five-star villa also walked away from the awards being recognised as the third best resort in Europe. These impressive awards really are testament to the mythic, magical atmosphere the Serbelloni creates for its guests.
With its Michelin-starred restaurant, The Mistral, run by gastronomy genius Ettore Bocchia, and its low lit, romantically enticing spa and wellness centre, it really is no wonder that this Villa has been named the finest in Italy. It also may come as no surprise that through its 150 years, many VIPs have stayed within the gilded walls of The Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, these include royal family members, J. F. Kennedy, Al Pacino, and Winston Churchill among many others.
CEO of the hotel, Gianfranco Bucher was delighted with the grand title his establishment had been awarded, saying: “Luxury destinations are on the rise, customers are increasingly demanding, hotel chains grow more and more with new acquisitions: if you keep these things in mind, you can understand our joy as an independent facility. We work hard and with passion to keep the standard high and emphasise what makes this villa dating back to 1872 so unique.”
Antonio Calzolaro, General Manager of the hotel, revealed the secret recipe to its success: “In addition to its unique location and historical character, the strength of the Grand Hotel lies in its staff. We believe that the employees, in order to make our guests feel good, should first feel good themselves in carrying out their own jobs.
“In this sector, the turnover is high. We strive to make sure our employees are loyal to us, but also because it’s very nice when a guest comes back after a few years to find a friendly face who already knows their tastes and preferences. It’s not by chance that this hotel is run by a family, and we like to think that our guests can enjoy a luxury environment with all the comforts at the same time feeling at ease as if they were within a family context.”
So if you are planning a summer trip to the hills of Europe, where you intend to drink nothing but luxurious wines, eat nothing but delectable food and do nothing but relax in the sunshine that cascades from the sky, then Italy’s Number 1 rated Hotel is calling your name.
Address: Via Roma, 1, 22021 Bellagio CO, Italy / +39 031 950216
