Elite Traveler Summer 2019

LA DOLCE VITA

SERENO PENTHOUSE SUITE Il Sereno

Hailed as one of Europe’s most exciting hotels and the talk of the lake, Il Sereno is the minimalist masterpiece of leading designer/architect Patricia Urquiola. Organic and timeless in its embrace of nature, inspired by the colors and movement of the water, the hotel is an evolution of contemporary materials featuring wood, stone, copper and floor-to-ceiling windows that entice the dreamy views of the lake into your own private space. The spacious Sereno Penthouse Suite is a designer’s dream; it has customized furnishings and an expansive outdoor terrace with garden and private hot tub. Floors are inlaid with Venetian terrazzo and bathrooms are exquisitely paneled in stone. Natural shades of gray and walnut with a pop of blue reflect the serenity of the surrounding landscape and the liquid views. Sereno Penthouse Suite from $5,880 per night. Contact Samy Ghachem, managing director, info@serenohotels.com, +39 031 547 7800, serenohotels.com ROOFTOP PENTHOUSE SUITE Grand Hotel Tremezzo The fashionable Grand Hotel Tremezzo certainly knows a thing or two about style, combining chic interiors with bold, vibrant colors, and supporting classical detail with a young vibe. Tremezzo offers the best facilities on the entire lake, along with its outstanding T Spa. The Rooftop Penthouse Suite is quite literally the height of lakeside luxury, where the entire rooftop can be reserved on request by combining a Rooftop Front Suite with a Rooftop Corner Suite. Spacious, stylish and unashamedly sumptuous. The romantically lit private terrace is built for champagne nights beneath the twinkling stars, taking in breathtaking vistas across the calming water towards Bellagio. Rooftop Penthouse Suite from $10,400 per night. Contact Silvio Vettorello, general manager, info@grandhoteltremezzo.com, +39 034 442 491, grandhoteltremezzo.com The old-school opulence of Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, sitting on the lakefront in the heart of Bellagio, is the pink pearl of the lake. Its interior, with marble columns, Murano chandeliers and frescoed ceilings, will stretch your neck along with your thirst for Italian art. The Michelin-starredMistral restaurant serves molecular cuisine in a to-swoon-for lakeside setting. The period feel continues in the Lake View Senior Suites with 19th- century-style furnishings, a nostalgic nod to a bygone era. Lake View Senior Suite from $1,500 per night. Contact Antonio Calzolaro, general manager, antonio.calzolaro@ villaserbelloni.com, +39 031 950 216, villaserbelloni.com LAKE VIEWSENIOR SUITE Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni

THE CARDINAL SUITE Villa ’Este

With its impressive lakefront location, Villa d’Este remains one of the world’s most celebrated hotels, splendiferously grand and embellished throughout with traditional art and sparkling chandeliers. Set on 25 acres of manicured parkland gardens, with excellent facilities to match its aristocratic bearing, this noted regal residence to former princes, sultans and tsars is simply stunning. The Villa d’Este Cardinal Suite is super-lavish, a complete bastion of Renaissance style and Italian elegance fit to pamper all your senses. The Cardinal Suite from $3,600 per night. Contact Patrizia Penna, reservations manager, info@villadeste.it, +39 031 3481, villadeste.it

LUNCH DATE

From left The town of Varenna on the shores of Lake Como; enjoy classic

Peaceful and perfectly picturesque, the village of Varenna is just a bobbing boat ride away from its more famous sister, Bellagio, yet is considered to be the prettiest sibling and the real starlet of the lake. Nestled in the hug of the Eastern shore, the splendor of this charming village is characterized by traditional fishermen’s houses and narrow, cobbled lanes romantically winding their way up and away from the pebble beach, lovely cafes and memorable restaurants basking at its sparkling shoreline. For gnocchi with a view, head to Vecchia Varenna (+39 034 183 0793); for a velvety cappuccino or a thirst-quenching cocktail, visit Caffe Varenna (+39 034 183 0459). Al Prato (+39 348 712 4389) is a dreamy spot for prosecco in a piazza, and Il Cavatappi (+39 034 181 5349) is piccolo but perfect.

Italian fare with sublime views