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Lake Como is a dream destination for travellers from all around the world. George Clooney and his villa Oleandra in Laglio just increased the lake’s fame but the beauty of this place was already well known to travelers since the 18th century, Lake Como was a demanded location for the Grand Tour!
So many authors and artists wrote about the lake: Shelly, Byron, Fogazzaro, Beccaria, Wagner, Rossini, Bellini, Liszt, Stendhal, Flaubert … Manzoni made it immortal with the incipit of the Promessi Sposi: “Quel ramo del lago di Como”.
The whole world envies us a place like this one, where nature, art, history, architecture and good food melt perfectly together. Villages, towns, ancient villas, gardens, beaches (yes there are beaches too) and panoramic view points make Lake Como a place to explore and discover.
But this is not all about ancient architecture, in Torno, a small town near Como, there is a new beautiful hotel, Il Sereno entirely designed by Patricia Urquiola. The modern glass and wood architecture directly overlooks the lake and hosts the restaurant Berton Al Lago by the Michelin star chef Andrea Berton.
If you follow me on Instagram you will remember that some time ago I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the hotel and I fell in love with it!
As a traveler I’ve learned to appreciate what are now called design hotels, as they combine the hospitality of the high-end hotelerie with the beauty of design, the result is a unique atmosphere designed to welcome and amaze you and make yourself at home.
Il Sereno is a “Luxury Hotel” and you can easily imagine the reason… (speaking of… there is another Il Sereno… in St. Barth, Caribbean Sea…) but do not believe that it’s just out of your reach!
The hotel welcomes tourists from all over the world, but the thing I most liked is its opening to the Torno town. You can not only come here to stay the night but also for an unforgettable lake view aperitivo or a very romantic dinner.
If you take a trip on the lake, stop for an aperitivo, the mixologist Marco Gheza will take care of you with authentic cocktail. Try “Il Conte… va in bianco”, a white Negroni with chamomile flowers, and if you prefer non-alcoholic drink, do not miss “Lavander Flower” with blueberry, water and lavender syrup and orange perfume… I loved it!
At Il Sereno they have a great attention to local products, don’t be shy, ask for information, they will surprise you with beautiful stories of farm and family businesses!
Do not miss the garden with an amazing lake and pool view and the chef’s vegetable garden with herbs and edible plants!
I love and admire the work of Patricia Urquiola, she has a strong ability to mix materials and create atmospheres. Here everything brings its signature, architectural design, interior and furnishings.
I think Urquiola enjoyed playing with the colors of the lake: grey, brown and green from the water. Soft materials mix and matched with marbles and copper details. Hot-cold, smooth-rough… a balanced mix, just like a perfectly successful cocktail!
Rooms are amazing: the lake enters in the room and the room comes out on the lake … a continuous play between inside and outside. You can take a shower admiring the lake and you can relax in an outdoor lounge… such a dream!
Daytrip idea for the weekend
Take a trip to Como, maybe up to the funicular of Brunate for a beautiful lake view and then stop for an aperitivo in Torno!
The lake offers so many villas with wonderful gardens to visit. Don’t miss Villa del Balbianello, a wonderful FAI Fondo Ambiente italiano property (do you know that many movies have been filmed there, including Star Wars Episode II and James Bond 007 – Casino Royal?) or Villa Melzi with its garden among the most beautiful gardens in Europe or Villa d’Este in Cernobbio …
But Il Sereno also has a surprise villa too… the Villa Pliniana, although maybe it is at the moment just for Mark Zuckerberg and his friends … I’ll tell you more about it next week! 😉
Enjoy!
Foto Patricia Parinejad – JP Peter