600 hotel industry experts have voted and Lake Como’s Passalacqua Hotel has claimed the second spot in the prestigious World’s 50 Best Hotels list. Passalacqua also claimed the overall crown in 2023.Passalacqua is a luxurious 18th-century aristocratic home located on the shores of Lake Como. It has been transformed into a unique hotel. The hotel features 24 charming guest accommodations spread across three beautifully restored buildings, surrounded by seven acres of landscaped gardens that lead to a private jetty. The hotel, restaurant, and gardens are exclusively open to Passalacqua guests. Passalacqua is located an hour's drive from Milan, Italy's fashion and design hub.
Located just fifteen minutes from the lively and cultured town of Como; the hotel embodies Lake Como's relaxed yet stylish lifestyle and offers intimate, one-to-one service reminiscent of its historic villas.Passalacqua is a unique property that encompasses three equally unique places to stay within its ancient walls: the Villa, the Palazz, and the Casa al Lago. Each of the three buildings has its own special personality, and every suite is different.
The Villa Passalacqua we see today was designed and built at the end of the 18th century by Milanese architect Carlo Felice Soave for Count Andrea Lucini-Passalacqua, a member of one of Como’s leading noble families. The property was originally part of the estate owned by Pope Innocent XI. In 2018, the De Santis family, who are native to Lake Como and also own the renowned Grand Hotel Tremezzo, acquired Villa Passalacqua. Following a three-year restoration project, the villa opened its doors to the public in June 2022, continuing its historic tradition of hospitality.
The 18th-century Villa, located at the heart of the estate, is a romantic vision adorned with shimmering silk, delicate stuccowork, and glittering chandeliers. The entire ground floor is dedicated to the leisure and pleasures of waking life, featuring an intimate bar, a well-stocked library, a walk-in kitchen, and two gracefully frescoed dining rooms. Renowned chef Viviana Varese has embraced the historic Italian tradition of family cooks, most of whom were women, and redefined it for the 21st century at Passalacqua. She is making Passalacqua the benchmark for a new vision of alta cucina di casa, or refined home cooking, reflecting her journey from a seafood trattoria on the Amalfi Coast to her own Michelin-starred restaurant in Milan.
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