The Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni is settled in the Como lake district. In this area the land of the Lombardy Lakes is a "unicum" of water and lush green banks, here and there interrupted by valleys slicing into the mountains, creating their unique profile, all this plunged in a perfectly mild climate. The land of Lombardy lakes has always been, since ancient Roman times and above all after the Renaissance, the destination of travellers seeking out their own very little corner of paradise lost. In the following page you will find an index of the most evocative sites in the Como Lake District
History
For the past 100 years or more, the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni has been one of the most well-known and prestigious hotels in the world.Set in the splendid surroundings of Lake Como, where the blue waters meet the green mountains which soar above the lake, the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni enjoys a breathtaking position on the promontory which juts halfway out into the lake, separating the two branches. The luxurious vegetation of its Italian-style gardens, abounding in Mediterranean and subtropical plants, flourishes in the pleasant microclimate around the lake: sunshine almost all year round, accompanied by mild temperatures in every season. Owing to its delightful setting, Bellagio, an oasis of peace on the shores of the lake, has been a holiday destination for centuries and it was here that, in around 1850, construction work started on a luxurious holiday villa on the banks of the lake for an aristocratic family from Milan.
In 1872 the villa, which is in pure neo-classical style, was sold and since then it has formed the central nucleus of the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni which was opened in 1873. Its interior reflects the good taste loved by the wealthy nobility of the time: its walls and ceilings are adorned with frescoes and paintings of mythological scenes, gilded frames, festoons, temples, putti, flamingos, Pompeian reds. The coffer ceilings are often frescoed with floral patterns in grey and pinktones. The guests are fascinated by the period wall coverings in French style, by the antique Persian carpets, the crystal chandeliers from Murano, the furniture in Imperial, neo-classical and Art Nouveau style; not to mention the marble staircases, the stucco work columns, the splendid trompe d\'oeil...
The "salle à manger" alone is a genuine monument to art, as is the Salone Reale,which in the evening is lit by bronze and crystal chandeliers, the splendour of whose lights are reflected by large mirrors. Right from the outset, the Grand Hotel became the chosen destination for illustrious guests in search of peace: royalty, aristocrats, figures from international politics and, more recently, movie stars.