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The majestic Passalacqua, Lake Como is set to debut in June 2022

A historic private villa since 1787, transformed into a once-in-century five-star hotel on the shores of Lake Como. Share

This is the story about an extraordinary villa on the edge of Lake Como, standing above the village of Moltrasio, leading all the way down to the lake’s shore. This historic mansion has played host to some of the world’s most brilliant minds in music, literature, art and politics from Napoleon Bonaparte to Bellini to Winston Churchill.

Built on land originally owned by Pope Innocent XI, Villa Passalacqua was constructed in the 18th Century by Count Andrea Lucini Passalacqua, who worked with architect Felice Soave and designer Giocondo Albertolli to bring his vision of making one of the largest and most spectacular villas on Lake Como come to life.

The majestic Passalacqua, Lake Como is set to debut in June 2022

In the years that followed, the villa became a gathering place for some of Italy’s most prominent figures. Vincenzo Bellini made Villa Passalacqua his home in 1829, composing two of his most famous operas, Norma and Sonnambula.

In the classic Villeggiatura, time slows to an anachronistic pace, you find yourself gradually moving from doing to simply being. This sweet idleness known as dolce far niente is a quintessentially Italian practice, something the rest of the world eyes with envy. At Passalacqua, it is less about being lazy than about living in the moment, entirely free from the pressure of schedules and expectations.

The majestic Passalacqua, Lake Como is set to debut in June 2022

Take a dip in the pool or book a boat ride, play tennis or a round of bocce, but in your own time. Arrange for a treatment at the spa, a yoga session under the magnolias or an excursion further afield, if you can tear yourself away from the view. Join the other guests for a movie night under the stars or opt instead for a solitary walk in the woods. At Passalacqua, experiences are there for the taking whenever the mood strikes.

At Passalacqua, Lake Como isn’t just a pretty face, there to be admired. It is literally at your feet, ripe for the taking. We invite you to make your way through the park to our secluded, private pier, whether it’s for a quick dip in the water or a long morning swim. Alternatively, you might climb aboard a vintage motor launch from Como’s legendary boatyard Cantiere Colombo and take to the lake in style in our taxi boat Giumello or the leisure craft Didi. For the water sports enthusiasts among us, there are kayaks, water skis and stand-up paddleboards to choose from.

The majestic Passalacqua, Lake Como is set to debut in June 2022

Exquisite Italian cuisine is one of Passalacqua’s best features – a rich variety of delicacies, some cultivated right on the estate, as well as frequent culinary happenings in its homely kitchens. Guests are invited to find a farm-to-table tasting or a cooking experience to try, to help themselves to the vintage glass sweet jars or to sample the creamy goodness of homemade gelato from the local gelateria – the possibilities are literally endless…

The majestic Passalacqua, Lake Como is set to debut in June 2022

Passalacqua’s Spa occupies a world all its own in the Palazz. The treatment program is designed around some unexpected ingredients inspired by the lake as well as the renowned Dr Barbara Sturm range. And for the biggest surprise of them all, spa guests can take a secret staircase to a thermal area in the 18th-century tunnels and enjoy the steam room and the sauna nestled in rock-hewn caves.

For more information, visit passalacqua.it

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