The Overwhelming Fantastic thing about This Fabled Lake Como Lodge Could Carry Tears to Your Eyes — Right here’s Why

It was a nerve-wracking method to Grand Lodge Villa Serbelloni. After a vertigo-inducing drive on the coast-hugging street to Bellagio, we discovered ourselves in certainly one of Italy’s dreaded ZTLs, or restricted site visitors zones, certain we’d taken a flawed flip. The lane acquired narrower and narrower as we crawled by means of the tourist-packed historic heart, making an attempt to disregard the stink-eyed stares of pedestrians who needed to transfer out of our method. One thing appeared flawed. However as quickly because the gate attendant raised the bar to usher us into the lodge parking zone, all the pieces was all of a sudden alright once more.

Grand Lodge Villa Serbelloni is without doubt one of the undisputed grand dames of Lake Como and, together with Grand Lodge Tremezzo, Grand Lodge Victoria, and Villa D’Este, is among the many lake’s legendary villa lodges. Like its illustrious friends, Serbelloni started life as a personal property, in-built 1850 as a birthday current for a contessa, who apparently didn’t respect her husband’s gesture. By 1873, it was the Grand Lodge Bellagio, and in 1919, it was acquired by the Bucher household of luxurious hoteliers, who’re nonetheless the current homeowners.

Regardless of some downsizing in the course of the Nice Despair (the adjoining Rockefeller Basis Bellagio Middle was as soon as a part of the property holdings), Grand Lodge Villa Serbelloni emerged because the go-to place for Italian and worldwide elites by means of the many years. Rich households from Milan, in addition to names like Churchill, Roosevelt, Rothschild, and Kennedy, have all checked in right here, as have a bevy of Hollywood stars from the silent period to the current — per week earlier than our go to, Woody Harrelson had signed the guestbook.

The Buchers, now of their fourth technology at Serbelloni, have persistently made additions and enhancements to the property with out ever shedding contact with its historic grandeur. Authentic frescoes, coffered and vaulted ceilings, statuary, and artworks nonetheless adorn these hallowed halls, and preserving them may be difficult. “It’s exhausting to seek out artisans to do restoration work,” says basic supervisor Jan Bucher. And due to the age of the constructing, there are not any blueprints that present the place water pipes or different utilities are positioned, so discovering them for restore or alternative is one thing of a scavenger hunt. “It’s humorous, actually,” says Bucher. “Irritating, however humorous.”

However again to our grand entrance from the touristy buzz of Bellagio. As I checked in, my husband, our daughter, and her good friend gaped on the Grand Corridor, the unique marble staircase, and the diamond-encrusted Rolexes on the market within the foyer.  Moments later, we have been slack-jawed on the lake views from the balcony of our Deluxe Room, which my husband and I toasted over a glass of Champagne and a slice of almond cake. There’s a next-level magnificence right here, in virtually each inch of a lodge that’s each little bit of its period however not caught prior to now.

Learn on for my full evaluation of Grand Lodge Villa Serbelloni.

The Rooms

Villa Serbelloni’s 94 rooms and suites are unfold over the unique villa, and two wings have been added within the late 1800s. They vary from 312-square-foot Traditional rooms, which overlook the lake, the lodge’s wooded parkland, or Bellagio village, to Deluxe rooms, like ours, which have sitting areas and extra sq. footage. Ours was on the facet of the constructing, with an unobstructed view of the lake from our non-public balcony, accompanied by the twitter of songbirds from the backyard.

All rooms have up to date marble bogs with separate tubs, walk-in showers, a separate water closet — at all times a pleasant contact — and bespoke soaps, lotions, and bathtub salts. Vintage furnishings and facilities like espresso makers, minibars, safes, and WiFi are customary in-room.

Suites vary from two-room Junior Suites to palatial spreads named for his or her illustrious previous company: the John F. Kennedy Suite, the Churchill Suite, and the Franz Liszt Suite, named for the Hungarian pianist who composed right here. They smack of old-world glamor, with ornamental ceiling moldings, cloth wall coverings, gilded furnishings, and sweeping lake views.

Villa Serbelloni is at the moment renovating its rooms and suites in phases. Ours was not but renovated, however I did get a peek at some renovated rooms. General, they really feel lighter, with subdued colour schemes and parquet as an alternative of carpeted flooring and heavy patterned materials.

Meals and Drink

The Royal Breakfast is an considerable buffet, with a number of meals stations, together with one devoted to pastries, provided within the Salone Reale, the chandeliered, mirrored corridor as soon as served because the villa’s ballroom. All the things we tried was scrumptious, however the crispy-sweet waffles are to not be missed.

La Goletta is Villa Serbelloni’s extra informal eating choice, with a poolside terrace and an indoor eating room with a woodsy, nautical theme. The menu contains a vary of acquainted Mediterranean classics, seafood, and a few pan-Asian surprises, like shrimp bao buns.

Wonderful eating restaurant Mistral is the one which made me cry — or not less than get teary-eyed. The Champagne was ready at our out of doors desk, which provided a ringside seat to a glowing sundown and the rising lamplight of villages on the opposite facet of the lake. I don’t assume I’ve seen a extra completely lovely setting. We loved the seven-course tasting menu from govt chef Ettore Bocchia and a very good wine pairing. Signature experiences listed here are old fashioned and new: conventional lobster in Cognac and pressed duck are ready tableside, as is Bocchia’s one-of-a-kind liquid nitrogen ice cream.

Along with the pool and seaside bar, there’s Terrazza Darsena—the one bar we didn’t strive—and Verri’s, the clubby foyer bar, which presents cocktails and night aperitivo nibbles within the Grand Corridor. Had our desk at Mistral not been ready for us, we may have lingered right here, sampling one sophisticated cocktail after one other and hoping to identify some low-key celebrities.

Actions and Experiences

We by no means touched our automobile after we arrived and will have simply simply camped out on the property with out feeling like we’d missed a lot. However a ship tour of the lake onboard a basic Riva boat is an almost iconic (sure, I stated it) expertise as your information recounts the historical past of the lake’s well-known villas and their much more well-known homeowners and company. The lodge companions with Taxi Boat Service for these non-public excursions.

Take an early morning stroll, run, or hike with certainly one of Villa Serbelloni’s guide-trainers for one thing extra energetic. These excursions mix health and sightseeing and permit company to get pleasure from Bellagio’s charming lanes and majestic lake views earlier than the daytime ferry crowds descend. In any other case, merely strolling and purchasing are my favourite pastimes in Bellagio. The Villa Melzi botanical gardens are among the many best in Europe and are inside strolling distance of the lodge.

Grand Lodge Villa Serbelloni has a seaside with loungers and umbrellas and some areas to enterprise into the chilly lake. Offshore, there are two swimming platforms with diving boards. From our seat by the pool, we watched as a younger girl labored up her nerve to dive again into the cool water — to a refrain of onshore cheers as soon as she lastly made the plunge.

The Spa

The Luce del Lago (“Mild of the Lake”) spa presents a full menu of face and physique remedies, many with a predictable deal with anti-aging and rejuvenation. In a {couples}’ remedy room, I used to be dusted in pure gold powder and wrapped in foil earlier than a shoulder and neck therapeutic massage and facial. On the subsequent desk, my husband opted for the jet lag remedy, which focuses on (in his case, aching) ft and features a head and neck therapeutic massage.

Outdoors, there’s a big, glamorous swimming pool the place you possibly can deliver your drink (served in a plastic glass) or seize a lounger and order lunch. However we spent most of our time within the heated indoor Serenity Pool, with its effervescent therapeutic massage mattress and different jet options. Close by are moist and dry saunas, plus an adjoining children’ pool.

Household-friendly Choices

We have been happy that our tween daughter and her good friend may be a part of us within the Serenity Pool, the place we spent most of our leisure time. The neighboring children’ pool, with a waterfall and play space, is good for youthful children. The out of doors pool has shallow areas for youngsters however extends to a depth of three meters. Brave children and their mother and father may swim within the lake, which was nonetheless fairly chilly in mid-June.

We noticed loads of households with younger kids, and the lodge will prepare babysitters. Once we dined on the grown-up Mistral, the ladies opted for room service, which was a deal with for them. In any other case, La Goletta and the pool bar, the place burgers and fries are provided, are the most effective choices for youths.

Accessibility and Sustainability

For these with restricted mobility, just about all areas of the lodge are accessible, although the lake itself is reachable solely by stairs. Bellagio village tumbles right down to the lakefront, and sure areas are reached solely by way of stone staircases or steep paved inclines.

Sustainability initiatives embrace photovoltaic panels, which generate clear vitality and run the lodge’s air-con system. That is mixed with a lake water cooling system that pumps chilly water from the lake for cooling after which returns it, in purified type, to the lake. Photo voltaic heaters are additionally put in for warm water and indoor swimming swimming pools. Chef Bocchia is understood for his meticulous sourcing of components, together with ethically produced foie gras and meals from native, sustainable producers.

Location

Grand Lodge Villa Serbelloni is positioned in Bellagio, which sits on the tip of a landmass that splits the decrease half of Lake Como into two elements. For many who don’t drive to Bellagio (apparently, the street we took from Lecco was the “straightforward” route), ferries run by Navigazione Laghi ply the lake cities, with extra frequent service in the summertime months.

The closest worldwide airport is Milan Malpensa. Milan Linate and Milan Bergamo airports deal with principally home and intra-Europe flights.

Word that Grand Lodge Villa Serbelloni closes yearly from November by means of February.

The way to Get the Most Worth Out of Your Keep

Shoulder season on the lodge is March to Could and September and October when Bellagio is much less crowded, lake waters are chillier, and nice climate is much less assured. Room costs are barely decrease in these months. You can too forego the lake view (unhappy however doable) and save as a lot as a number of hundred euros in your room.

The lodge is affiliated with Signature Journey, Internova Journey, and Hidden Doorways. Friends reserving by means of these networks can get pleasure from perks equivalent to upgrades upon availability, particular facilities of their rooms, and complimentary Royal Breakfast.