Villa d'Este on Lago di Como: absolute architectural elegance
The deluxe villa has a long history.
Villa d'Este, which was originally named Villa del Garovo, is considered one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture of the 16th century. It was built in 1568 for Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio. Pellegrino Pellegrini, called “Il Tibaldi”, is behind this designer jewel and proved that he was the master of his art. This residential building is surrounded by a magnificent private park with hundreds of plants, where you can admire the Nympheum Pellegrino Pellegrini, Hercules’ fountain or the statue of Telemachus for instance. In the individual halls, which radiate luxury, you can appreciate fascinating works of art from the French School, Canova‘s School and decorations by Andrea Appiani.
The summer residence and the park itself, of an area of 100,000 m2, have undergone major changes since the beginning of the 16th century. The complex became a deluxe hotel for the nobility and high bourgeoisie from 1873 and took the name Villa d'Este, which referred to its famous links to the Villa d'Este in Tivoli not far from Rome. It has retained this appearance to this day.
Villa d'Este offers unbelievable luxury and you can relax like royalty here. Are you prepared to submerse yourself in this dream?
The deluxe rooms and apartments with a view of the lake or the park are divided between two buildings: the cardinal’s building and the royal pavilion. The windows and terraces afford an exceptional view of the harbour and the boats that quietly return to the shore in the evening.
"Everything is majestic and moving here, everything speaks of love,” Stendhal said of this deluxe place.
Every year in May the hotel organises the Concours d'Elegance, a wine harvest, or a show of historic cars called the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, which was presented for the first time in 1928. The hotel is also around 2.7 km away from monuments such as Tempio Voltano, Faro Voltiano and Chiesa di Sant'Agostino, which history buffs will be sure to appreciate.
