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Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni is a hotel unlike any other on Lake Como. Set on the shores of this stunning Northern Italian lake that has been made famous throughout the years by European and American celebrities alike, it’s history, presence and family-owned charm will entice you from the moment you walk through the door.
Located in the holiday town of Bellagio, It’s not hard to be taken, instantly, by the location. Charming cobbled streets that cascade down the hill and to the lilac-fringed lakefront are enough to paint an image of a fairy tale that you will never want to end. Pulling-up to this hotel gem, directly on the lake, you can see that it stands as the backbone of the community. For over 100 years, the Bucher family have seen guests through their “home” that range from European royalty to pop stars and artists looking for a quiet place to call their own during their days, weeks or months in Lake Como.
The hotel offers 95 rooms and suites, all individually decorated with furnishings and art that belong to the Bucher family. The family themselves reside in the hotel, and everything here is very personal to them. As a guest, you might not notice, but members of the family blend in with the other employees. You might be speaking to the owner of this impressive property about the weather of the day, and not even know it. With this in mind, it’s comforting to see that each guest at Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni is treated like a member of the family, and the graciousness and goodness of that is compromised for nothing.
I was a guest at the hotel and experienced it, first-hand, over four days. What a pleasure to spend time within these storied walls and exploring, further afield, the charming towns, islands and sights nearby. In Bellagio, everything is within walking distance, from fantastic restaurants to shops, villa museums and fishing towns. This is Italy and everything moves very slowly, which is the point. Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni is the perfect spot from which to explore Lake Como and slow down a bit.
Within the hotel, guests will find comfortable rooms with impressive lake views, a stunning spa offering treatments customized by Biologique-Recherche in Paris, La Goletta restaurant – for informal Mediterranean fare, and the impressive Michelin-starred eatery, Mistral, headed by Chef Ettore Bocchia. You can spend your days within the hotel’s rooms, admiring the vast art collection, indulging in a spa treatment, swimming in the indoor or outdoor pools and dining on some of Italy’s best cuisine. There really is no reason to leave.
After four days of stuffing myself with enough bread, olive oil and pasta than most people consume in a lifetime, it was time for me to check-out and turn-in my room key. The manager of the hotel, Antonio, met me at reception and it was a sad goodbye. Why? Although I would miss the opulence, food and comfort of the hotel – I was mostly sad over leaving the people. The staff members here are family, literally, and their kindness and attentiveness makes an impression. I have never experienced a hotel with such authentic service, especially in a large and grand hotel. For anyone looking for a luxurious slice of Italy, with a friendly and down-to-earth environment – Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni should be your choice.
