Villa D'Este - One of Italy's finest

Set North of Milan on one of the most romantic lakes in the world and surrounded by the 25 acres of its magnificent garden, Villa d’Este was originally built in 1568 as the summer residence for Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio.

The favourite playground of an Empress, an English Queen and aristocrats, it was transformed into a luxury hotel in 1873. Continuously renovated and updated, without sacrificing any of its old-word charm, Villa d’Este today offers the superior standards of hospitality you expect from one of Europe’s truly legendary resorts.

The 152 guest rooms are located both in the Cardinal Building and in the Queen’s Pavilion, built in honour of the Princess Caroline of Brunswick. The rooms, which include double rooms, junior suites and suites, are elegant, comfortable and feature antique furniture; no two are alike in size or decor. All have air-conditioning, direct telephone, high speed internet connection, mini-bar, colour satellite TV, pay-per-view movies and marble bathrooms.

The Villa d’Este has numberious dinning options including; The Veranda which overlooks the Lake and the gardens. It is formal and elegant (jacket and ties required in the evening). Glassed-in, windows electrically controlled disappear into the ground. In the Summer tables are also set up on the terrace. The menu is traditional Italian haute cuisine; The Grill is informal but the ambience is cozy and chic. The menu lists an interesting variety of regional dishes with a choice of the best Italian wines. In the Summer, meals are served in the garden under the century-old plane trees and Non Solo Pasta where the atmosphere is informal and it’s particularly suitable for families. The Chef prepares every evening a selection of pasta dishes as well as a delicious buffet.