Villa d'Este: A Celebrated Heritage
2022 is a very special year for the iconic Villa d'Este as it celebrates its 150th hotel season this year! It is impossible not to be swept up in the silent glamour and history of Villa d’Este, with the grande dame having played host to some of the greatest names in cinema, art, literature, politics and business over the past 150 seasons. The legendary hotel has withstood the test of time and evolved gracefully, and this anniversary year will honour the traditions for which Villa d’Este is famed and adored, whilst also celebrating the continued innovations which affirms the hotel as an evolving icon within the industry. It its celebrated alongside the Concorso d’Eleganza, the worlds most elite gathering of fine and rare automobiles.
Set on the shores of one of the world's most idyllic and romantic lakes, Villa d'Este was built in 1568 as the private summer residence of Tolomeo Gallio, Cardinal of Como. Originally named 'Garovo', the Villa was designed by Pellegrino Pellegrini of Valsolda, one of the best architects of those days. In succession it was owned by a ballerina and a Napoleonic General, a Queen without a crown (who renamed it into 'Villa d'Este), a Russian Empress and minor aristocracy.However later in 1873, the Villa was transformed into its current setting as a luxury hotel.
The property is surrounded by the 25 acres of gardens, whose statues and landscape have been photographed for centuries. The design of the lower part of the gardens is from the renaissance period while the outlook of the upper part is from the 18th century. The most exceptional landmark is the 16th century Mosaic with its Nympheum. Excitingly, the magnificent plane-tree on the terrace overlooking the lake is over 600 years old, and is believed to be among the oldest in Lombardy.
Villa d'Este today offers 152 rooms, all different in decor but linked by the superior standards of hospitality. There are also three beautiful private villas - Villa Malakoff, Villa Cima and Villa Garrovo, located in the park of the Hotel. Guests are able to use all of the facilities and amenities of the Villa d'Este while mantaining the privacy and exclusivity that a private villa can offer. Most of the guest rooms, as well as the corridors of the several buildings are decorated with antique furnishing, paintings and artworks, which give the hotel a palatial atmosphere.
For centuries, the magical lake Como has been an inspiration to poets, artists and musicians from Virgil, Pliny, Shelley, Stendhal, Byron and Longfellow to Bellini, Rossini, Verdi, Liszt and Puccini. Hotel registers dating from 1873 list everyone from Mark Twain to Joseph Heller; from King Leopold of Belgium to the Saudi Arabian Royal Family; from José Carreras to Madonna. Known as "Hollywood on Lake Como" after Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks visited Villa d'Este, a succession of movie stars followed suite from Greta Garbo and Bette Davis to Elizabeth Taylor and Sharon Stone; from Clark Gable and Gary Cooper to Mel Gibson and Woody Allen. For centuries Como has been considered the silk capital of the world. Bill Blass, Donna Karan and Ralph Lauren refer to Villa d'Este as their second home. Now it is also home to elite summer tourists and the famed Concorso d’Eleganza taking place at the villa.