Passalacqua — Voted “Best Hotel in the World” 2023
As the clock struck midnight on September 19, a cloak of secrecy enveloped the renowned World’s 50 Best Organization's proclamation, etching the name of the Lake Como villa into the annals of exclusivity as the World's Best Hotel for the enigmatic year of 2023. This illustrious accolade, a whisper among the shadows, signifies a triumph unparalleled in the realm of accommodations. And yet, it carries an even weightier resonance for the unassuming Passalacqua.
Nestled within its discreet confines, with a mere 24 rooms veiled in luxury, Passalacqua materialized in the hushed whispers of June 2022. The World’s 50 Best Organization, in its cryptic inspection note, anointed this boutique establishment as “Lake Como at its most glamorous and luxurious, with a tantalizing hint of bohemianism”. A clandestine masterpiece, now crowned in secrecy, awaiting those daring enough to unveil its mystique.
In the ethereal tapestry of 2018, Valentina De Santis and her kin, proprietors of the neighboring Grand Hotel Tremezzo, acquired the extraordinary estate from an American couple. The De Santises, attuned to the mystique enveloping a place like Passalacqua, deemed it unfit for seclusion. Thus, they embarked upon a transcendental journey to metamorphose it into a boutique haven, animated by a singular vision.
The sun dips low, a golden kiss, Upon the waters, a shimmering bliss.
Enchanted Embrace: A Villeggiatura Sojourn at Passalacqua, Unveiling the Essence of Home
Last summer, my sojourn led me into the enchanted embrace of Passalacqua, immersing me in the very essence of the villeggiatura that De Santis had woven with her words. A sultry summer afternoon, steeped in jet-lagged weariness and creased attire, heralded my arrival. A profound sense of serendipity enveloped me as I stepped into the reception room, a sanctuary that transcended the mere trappings of opulence—it resonated with the familiarity of an intimate, if impossibly chic, friend's living space. Bathed in a resplendent pear green hue, the room cradled a lively fig leaf plant in one corner, while a Murano glass chandelier dangled from a pointed ceiling, casting a celestial glow.
("Our aspiration was to evoke the essence of home, hence we discarded many conventional hotel elements," discloses Desantis.)
J.J. Martin, the renowned maximalist designer and queen of style, has transformed the Winter Garden, a former greenhouse, into a stylish vintage-inspired all-day bar.
Adorned with Breccia Pontificia marble, the mantle hosted jars of confectionery, guarded by antique objets d’art as sentinels of time immemorial. In an adjacent room, a bar nestled plush loveseats, inviting contemplation and camaraderie, while the kitchen unveiled an island laden with a cornucopia of delights—cakes, fruit bowls, smoked salmon, and freshly baked breads—an orchestration for the symphony of breakfast.
Sovereign Echoes: Passalacqua, A Neoclassical Masterpiece on the Hallowed Shores of Lakefront Majesty
Upon the hallowed shores of lakefront land, consecrated by the brief sovereignty of Pope Innocent IX, who held sway over the Vatican for a fleeting two months in the year 1591, rises the enigmatic edifice known as Passalacqua. In the early canvases of the 1800s, Count Andrea Lucini Passalacqua, guided by the aesthetic wand of the renowned Swiss maestro Giocando Albertolli, conjured forth a sprawling villa. It emerged as an opulent testament, a magnum opus of neoclassical splendor. The annals of time echo with the harmonies of Vincenzo Bellini, who, in the resonant music room of this abode, gave birth to two immortal operas—Norma and La Sonnambula— in the year 1829.
In corridors of epochs, custodians tread, A grand procession, tales of history spread.
The procession of custodians traversed the corridors of epochs, welcoming illustrious visitors from the likes of Napoleon Bonaparte to the indomitable Winston Churchill. Across the estate, neoclassical grandeur intertwines seamlessly with contemporary whispers. Barovier & Toso Murano glass chandeliers, suspended from lofty heights, weave a luminescent dance, while Dyson hairdryers hum in synchrony. Amidst the shadowy embrace of an olive grove, a gym adorned with state-of-the-art treadmills awaits. Vintage steamer trunks by Bottega Conticelli unveil flatscreen televisions, a clandestine fusion of antiquity and modernity.
In this hallowed space, carefully restored frescos grace select chambers, and the poolside sanctuary is adorned with upholstery by the artisanal hands of La Double J’s JJ Martin. A clandestine spa, tethered to a secret conduit leading to the lake, whispers tales of bygone servants who tread this covert passageway. The nautical emissary, "Didi," swathed in the rich tapestry of Loro Piana fabrics, rides the ripples of the lake, a vessel of timeless elegance. The very fabric of the hotel staff's attire, curated by the cult-Italian enigma Giuliva Heritage, breathes life into the corridors.
Yet, Passalacqua is more than a symphony of material opulence; it is an ode to the very essence of Italy's artistic soul. Taffeta sourced from Como drapes the windows, and gilded mirrors, born of the artisanal lineage of Venice's Barbini, reflect the opulence within. The sinuous embrace of Rubelli textiles cradles couches and chairs, while the bedchamber floors bear the legacy of traditional Cotto Lombardo tiles. Valentina De Santis, the enchantress behind this masterpiece, articulates her vision: "vivere Italiano," a pulsating celebration of the Italian way of life.
Embodying the essence of a lavish fin de siècle atmosphere, characterized by exquisite silk lampshades, textured damask walls, and vibrant floral fabrics, these cozy retreats offer views of the courtyard nestled between the Palazz and the Villa.
Passalacqua's Tapestry of Emotion and Beauty Across Villa, Stables, and Casa Al Lago
Within Passalacqua's sanctum, rooms weave a tapestry between the main villa, repurposed stables, and the resplendent Casa Al Lago with its four regal chambers. Each sanctum, a realm unto itself, conceals frescos, painted ceilings, and ornate Baroque flourishes. Guests, enraptured by the enchantment, often find themselves moved to tears as they traverse these realms. "It's a place that taps into emotions," De Santis reflects, "where they not only witness the beauty but feel the love and passion that imbues every corner."
Unveil secrets, a fusion of past and present swell.
In this mystical haven, a unique communion among guests unfolds—an ethereal dialogue that transcends continents and languages. Conversations weave seamlessly, tales of suites bathed in Turkish and royal blues find eager listeners, and deliberations on the perfect wine for luncheon become a communal ritual. For, in this moment suspended in time, united by the shared marvel of the jewel box adorning the lake, disparate souls find kinship within the embrace of Passalacqua's mystique.
