Villa d'Este
A monumental playground for rich & beautiful
08/01/2024 Reading time: 2 Minutes
The Villa d'Este is probably the most famous grand hotel on Lake Como - with the highest VIP density, the grandest park (ten hectares) and the most eventful history.
Even in brief, the latter would go beyond the scope of this article. Just this much: it was completely contrary owners, including a cardinal, a Scala ballerina and an English queen, who contributed architecturally and botanically to the creation of this national landmark. Even Alfred Hitchcock liked his vacations here criminally - he used to check in with his wife Alma in September, always in the same luxury suite on the second floor.
A good century later many things are still cinematic, apart from the timeless elegance of the corridors, salons and suites. A veritable company of waiters in white jackets swarm into the Veranda restaurant. Male guests are required to wear ties and jackets. However, it is not quite as stiff as feared. Subtle piano music from the bar accompanies the Risotto Gran Riserva with white Alba truffle. The dessert selection is also evergreen: Piccola Sacher or rather Crêpe Suzette?
The logical continuation would have been sugar-sweet dreams. I had them too. However, I was a little surprised beforehand about the relatively narrow shower cubicle in the marble bathroom of the junior suite for a taller man and bed linen that could definitely be softer. The morning sun then trivializes all objections - it beats wonderfully on my terrace, on the inviting floating pool in the lake and the 500-year-old plane tree in the park. The 110 m2 terrace of the Cardinal Suite, where the Obamas and Clooneys dined together last year, is a sight in itself.
Shortly before my arrivederci , rattling helicopters announce the next high-ranking visitor: Prime Minister Conte is doing the honors. Normality at the Villa d'Este, the eternally young playground for celebrities and posers.
A good century later many things are still cinematic, apart from the timeless elegance of the corridors, salons and suites. A veritable company of waiters in white jackets swarm into the Veranda restaurant. Male guests are required to wear ties and jackets. However, it is not quite as stiff as feared. Subtle piano music from the bar accompanies the Risotto Gran Riserva with white Alba truffle. The dessert selection is also evergreen: Piccola Sacher or rather Crêpe Suzette?
The logical continuation would have been sugar-sweet dreams. I had them too. However, I was a little surprised beforehand about the relatively narrow shower cubicle in the marble bathroom of the junior suite for a taller man and bed linen that could definitely be softer. The morning sun then trivializes all objections - it beats wonderfully on my terrace, on the inviting floating pool in the lake and the 500-year-old plane tree in the park. The 110 m2 terrace of the Cardinal Suite, where the Obamas and Clooneys dined together last year, is a sight in itself.
Shortly before my arrivederci , rattling helicopters announce the next high-ranking visitor: Prime Minister Conte is doing the honors. Normality at the Villa d'Este, the eternally young playground for celebrities and posers.
