Villa d’Este is quietly rolling out its unique brand of premium hospitality around the shores of Lake Como—and beyond. Life just got sweeter.
Lake Como’s distinctive Y-shaped geography has a remarkable effect: almost every vantage point along its shores feels, to the beholder, like it must surely be the finest from which to admire a body of water that has acquired near-mythical status. However, one particular view on these shimmering waters endures more than any other: that from a magnificent former 16th-century Renaissance villa on the lake’s south-western shore.
Villa d’Este remains the gold standard for an Italian lakeside retreat: one in which lavish hospitality, regal glamour and unabashed opulence coexist within a grand dame of Italian hôtellerie that today draws royalty, both hereditary and Hollywood, alongside other discerning travellers in search of the purest expression of la dolce vita. ‘Hotel’ feels like a comically inadequate description for what is one of Italy’s great social stages.
So it comes as exciting news for discerning Riviera denizens who love to go further than their immediate surrounds—Como is just three hours away by road—that this year marks the formal launch of Villa d’Este La Collezione, a new umbrella brand that signals an evolution from a single legendary hotel into a broader hospitality group: one that feels less like a conventional luxury hotel chain and more like an organic ecosystem that allows guests to experience Lake Como through different lenses.
At its heart, of course, remains Villa d’Este itself. Originally commissioned in 1568 by Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio and built as a summer residence, the estate became a fivestar hotel in 1873 and established itself as one of the defining stops on Europe’s Grand Tour. Much of its enduring appeal lies in its impressive continuity. Frescoed ceilings, Murano chandeliers, marble halls and sweeping staircases remain intact, while the 10-hectare park, recognised as a National Historic Monument, still unfolds around temples, follies and ornamental gardens that have changed little over the centuries. To call its floating pool, jutting out into the lake, ‘Insta-worthy’ would be to offer pretty tepid praise.
Villa d’Este’s 25 m pool, built on a teak-decked floating platform, overlooks Lake Como.
Directly facing Lake Como, Palazzo Venezia—which opened in December—introduces an entirely different proposition within the brand’s portfolio. Occupying a restored 19th-century building overlooking Piazza Cavour and the lakefront, a short hop across the water from Villa d’Este, this boutique property contains just 18 rooms and suites, whose decor marries Italian classicism with a quietly contemporary sensibility.
Morning jaunts through the bustle of Piazza Cavour give way to leisurely lakeside strolls, boat departures or the funicular climbing towards Brunate, while evenings culminate at Altariva Restaurant & Bar, where executive chef Alessandro Rinaldi’s interpretation of regional cuisine —contemporary and rooted in recipes he learned from his grandmother in southern Italy—is accompanied by sunset views across the lake towards the Prealps.
A third property on the roster, Miralago Luxury Apartments, is indicative of a growing trend in luxury travel: the desire for residential living without sacrificing five-star hotel service. Situated on Cernobbio’s lakeside promenade, just moments from Villa d’Este, the development comprises four one-bedroom apartments (around 90 m²) and four two-bedroom apartments (approximately 100 m²).
Designed by Droulers Architecture, the light-bathed, uncluttered and expansive living areas and flexible layouts make them particularly suited to multi-generational travel, with guests enjoying access to many of Villa d’Este’s amenities, from the Sporting Club and swimming pools to concierge services and the golf club. Private chefs, breakfast delivery and personalised concierge services repeatedly underscore the appeal of the branded residence concept during your stay.
Adjacent to Villa d’Este itself, Villa Belinzaghi is undergoing an extensive restoration after being reacquired in 2022 (it belonged to Villa d’Este during the 1950s and 1960s). Rich in historical significance, the villa was once associated with Guido Belinzaghi, one of the entrepreneurs responsible for transforming Villa d’Este into a grand hotel in 1873. When completed, it will introduce just four expansive suites alongside restaurants, a destination bar, cigar lounge and private spa.
Nearby, the historic Hotel Regina Olga is also set for revival. Acquired in 2025, the landmark property will eventually reopen with around 50 guestrooms, new dining venues and generous outdoor spaces, restoring another chapter of Cernobbio’s hospitality heritage while further strengthening Villa d’Este’s presence within the village itself.
Literally an outlier in this fledgling hotel group is Villa La Massa, the group’s Florentine property since 1998, which occupies a 13th-century riverside estate on the banks of the Arno, just outside Florence. With only 54 rooms and suites spread across a collection of historic villas, farmhouses and converted residences, it offers a distinctly Tuscan interpretation of bucolic-chic hospitality, surrounded by centuries-old gardens, dotted with olive trees and scored by cypress-lined paths. Since joining the Villa d’Este group, the Renaissance estate has undergone a meticulous restoration that has preserved its aristocratic soul while reinforcing its reputation as one of Tuscany’s most graceful retreats.
More than 150 years after opening its doors as a hotel, Villa d’Este remains the ultimate grand dame of Lake Como. Yet its greatest achievement may prove to be something less tangible: creating a collection that allows guests to experience the lake—literally and symbolically speaking—from multiple perspectives.
Villa d’Este from €1,300 per night; Palazzo Venezia from €1,340 per night; Miralago Luxury Apartments from €3,400 per night; Villa La Massa from €550 per night
