In the charming town of Moltrasio, Passalacqua sits above Lake Como’s balmy sun-warmed waters, a sumptuous retreat of frescoed ballrooms, cream-hued terraces, pistachio-coloured shutters and gardens heavy with ripe figs and wisteria, where afternoons taste of Amalfi lemons and chilled Franciacorta, and nights hum with clinking crystal and the rustle of silk. This 18th-century villa-turned-boutique hotel blends the Italian dolce far niente with la villeggiatura, sheer indulgence making it one of the best luxury hotels in Italy. Plucked out of a novela, the villa was built in 1787 welcoming everyone from opera legend Vincenzo Bellini, who composed La Sonnambula here, to Winston Churchill, before being reimagined by the De Santis family into one of Lake Como’s most exclusive hotels. De Santis’ Passalacqua was ranked as The World’s Best Hotel 2023.
The hotel boasts 24 sumptuous suites where marble stays cool under bare feet and prosecco stays chilled until the last streak of sun melts into the lake. Spread across three residences: the Villa with frescoed ceilings, Murano chandeliers and Venetian terrazzo floors, the rustic Palazz a former estate building with exposed beams; by the water the Casa al Lago offers private lake access best enjoyed with a chilled Bellini in hand as the sun dips behind the hills. More than twenty varieties of marble from cool grays of Carrara to the warm veining of Verona line the floors and vanities of Passalacqua, Venetian terrazzo laid by some of Italy’s last master artisans adds to the grandeur. Murano candelabras flicker against Fortuny lampshades, Como silk drapes and hand-painted frescoes bring warmth to the interiors. All layered with prints, artworks and antiques sourced by the De Santis family from markets and auctions across Italy.
