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For the past 100 years or more, the Grand
Hotel Villa Serbelloni has been one of
the most well- known and prestigious hotels
in the world.
Set in the splendid surroundings of Lake Como,
where the blue waters meet the green
mountains which soar above the lake, the Grand
Hotel Villa Serbelloni enjoys a
breathtaking position on the promontory
which juts halfway out into the lake,
separating the two branches. The
luxurious
vegetation of its Italian-style gardens,
abounding in Mediterranean and subtropical
plants, flourishes in the pleasant microclimate
around the lake: sunshine almost all year round,
accompanied by mild temperatures in every
season.
Owing to its delightful setting, Bellagio, an
oasis of peace on the shores of the lake,
has been a holiday
destination for centuries and it was here that,
in around 1850, construction work started
on a luxurious
holiday villa on the banks of the lake for an
aristocratic family from Milan.
In
1872 the villa, which is in pure
neo-classical style, was sold and since
then it has formed the central nucleus of
the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni which was
opened in 1873. Its interior reflects the
good taste loved by the wealthy nobility of
the time: its walls and ceilings are
adorned with
frescoes and paintings of mythological scenes,
gilded frames, festoons, temples, putti,
flamingos, Pompeian reds.
The coffer ceilings are often frescoed with
floral patterns in grey and pink tones.
The guests are fascinated by the period
wall coverings in French style, by the
antique Persian carpets, the crystal
chandeliers from Murano, the furniture in
Imperial, neo-classical and Art Nouveau
style; not to mention the marble
staircases, the stucco work columns, the
splendid trompe d\'oeil....
The "salle à manger" alone is a genuine monument
to art, as is the Salone Reale, which in
the evening is lit by bronze and crystal
chandeliers, the splendour of whose lights
are reflected by large mirrors. Right from
the outset, the Grand Hotel became the chosen
destination for illustrious guests in search of
peace: royalty, aristocrats, figures from
international politics and, more recently,
movie stars.
The Sovereigns of Spain, Romania, Albania,
Egypt; above all the Russian and English
aristocracy; Winston Churchill, Roosevelt, the
Rothschilds, J.F. Kennedy; Mary Pickford,
Douglas Fairbanks, Maria Schell, Clark
Gable, Robert Mitchum, Al Pacino.... these are
just some of the famous guests who have strolled
through the rooms and lakeside gardens of
the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, enjoying
its beauty and outstanding hospitality.
The owner and personal manager of the hotel is
Gianfranco Bucher, the heir of a family who for
five generations has made high class hotel
hospitality his life's ideal. An ideal
which is expressed by combining the splendid
surroundings with accurate service and the
perfection of highly refined gastronomy; by the
choice of wines which encompass the best of
Italian and international wines; by
offering each guest an ideal stay, also with an
emphasis on leisure activities. |
