Passalacqua Lake Como: An Extraordinary Italian Escape

Passalacqua Lake Como: Discover a Lavish Retreat

Few destinations capture the romance of northern Italy quite like Passalacqua Lake Como. Rising above the water in the village of Moltrasio, this extraordinary luxury hotel feels less like a resort and more like an invitation into one of Italy’s most beautiful private homes.

The historic villa dates to the late 18th century. Today, it offers just 24 individually designed rooms and suites spread across three buildings. Seven acres of terraced gardens tumble toward the lake, while frescoes, marble, antiques, Murano glass, Italian silks, and handcrafted furnishings fill the interiors.

However, Passalacqua is about far more than beautiful design. The De Santis family, owners of the celebrated Grand Hotel Tremezzo, has created a deeply personal interpretation of Italian hospitality.

The result is a hotel where luxury feels warm rather than formal. In fact, Passalacqua was named The World’s Best Hotel in 2023. It has remained among the world’s highest-ranked luxury hotels ever since.

For travellers dreaming about Lake Como, this is one Italian address that deserves a place at the top of the list. Discover luxury stays with Tablet Hotels.

BOOK Passalacqua Lake Como

Table of Contents

Passalacqua Lake Como: A Private Villa Above the Water

The first impression is unforgettable.

Passalacqua sits high above Lake Como, surrounded by gardens that descend toward a private jetty. Its pale amber exterior and sage shutters seem almost purpose-built for the soft Lombardy light.

Yet the beauty grows richer as you explore.

The estate includes olive groves, magnolias, roses, jasmine, fountains, stone pathways, and centuries-old trees. Flowers are gathered from the gardens and arranged throughout the property. As a result, the landscape becomes part of the hotel’s interior world.

Meanwhile, views open across the deep blue-green water toward the mountains. Boats move slowly across the lake below, while the sound of fountains and birds replaces the noise of everyday life.

This is Lake Como at its most cinematic. Explore more with Weekend in Italy.

Passalacqua Lake Como

Passalacqua is also refreshingly intimate. With only 24 accommodations, the hotel maintains the atmosphere of a grand private residence rather than a conventional resort.

BOOK WITH TABLET HOTELS

A Remarkable History Dating Back Centuries

The story behind Passalacqua adds another layer to its appeal.

The estate’s history reaches back centuries and is connected with the Odescalchi family and Pope Innocent XI. Later, Count Andrea Lucini Passalacqua commissioned the villa in the late 18th century.

Architect Felice Soave helped create the neoclassical residence, while celebrated designer Giocondo Albertolli contributed to its interiors.

Over time, the villa became associated with artists, intellectuals, aristocrats, and musicians.

Most famously, Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini stayed here. During his time at the villa in 1831, Bellini composed La Sonnambula. The magnificent music room remains one of the property’s defining spaces.

After the last Lucini-Passalacqua count died without an heir in 1890, the estate passed through several owners. Its later history included an Estonian baroness and a Hungarian anthropologist. Winston Churchill was also among the villa’s notable visitors.

Then, in 2018, the story entered a new chapter.

The De Santis Family Brings Passalacqua Back to Life

The De Santis family acquired Villa Passalacqua in 2018. Already renowned for Grand Hotel Tremezzo, the family understood both Lake Como and the traditions of Italian hospitality.

Rather than transform the estate into a conventional luxury hotel, the family spent three years restoring its private-home character.

Passalacqua eventually opened as a hotel in June 2022.

The restoration celebrates generations of Italian craftsmanship. Throughout the property, guests discover antique furniture, paintings, textiles, hand-blown glass, carved stone, frescoes, and custom-made decorative pieces.

Nothing feels mass-produced.

Instead, rooms seem to have evolved over generations. A Murano chandelier might hang above an antique table. Hand-painted walls sit beside marble sourced from historic Italian quarries. Silk, bronze, wood, and stone add richness without making the interiors feel like a museum.

Therefore, Passalacqua manages a difficult balancing act. It is lavish, yet comfortable. Historic, yet alive. Grand, yet deeply personal.

Three Distinct Ways to Stay at Passalacqua Lake Como

The hotel’s 24 accommodations are divided among three buildings: the Villa, Palazz, and Casa al Lago.

Each has its own personality. However, all three share the same attention to craftsmanship and detail. See below for more details.

Book Passalacqua Lake Como

Three Distinct Ways to Stay at Passalacqua Lake Como | LXURI Travel Blog

The Villa

The Villa forms the grand heart of Passalacqua. Book Now

Its 12 rooms and suites feature soaring ceilings, original architectural details, ornate stucco, frescoes, chandeliers, Italian fabrics, and antique furnishings.

This is the place to stay for the most theatrical expression of Passalacqua.

Rooms range from elegant doubles to enormous suites. Many also offer exceptional views across the gardens and Lake Como.

The Bellini Suite

The Bellini Suite is Passalacqua’s showpiece. Book Now

Located within the Villa’s magnificent historic music room, this extraordinary accommodation spans approximately 250 square metres, or 2,700 square feet.

Its soaring proportions immediately distinguish it from a typical hotel suite. More importantly, the room carries a direct connection to Vincenzo Bellini and the villa’s musical heritage.

For travellers seeking one of Lake Como’s most distinctive accommodations, the Bellini Suite is difficult to surpass.

The Palazz

Behind the Villa, the eight-room Palazz occupies the property’s former stables. Book Now

Here, the mood becomes more intimate and rustic. Original exposed beams meet rich fabrics, painted walls, antiques, and carefully chosen decorative objects.

The Palazz feels warm and secluded. Therefore, it can be an appealing choice for guests who want Passalacqua’s signature style with a quieter country-house character.

The property’s spa is also located within this part of the estate.

Casa Al Lago

Down near the water, Casa al Lago offers another interpretation of the Passalacqua experience. Book Now

The four accommodations sit close to Lake Como and have direct access to the surrounding gardens. In addition, Casa al Lago can be reserved for exclusive use.

Its atmosphere is lighter and more relaxed than the main Villa. Yet it still features the exceptional materials, fabrics, artwork, and craftsmanship found throughout the estate.

For guests who want to wake up with the lake virtually at their feet, Casa al Lago is particularly enticing.

Italian Craftsmanship in Every Detail

One of the pleasures of Passalacqua is discovering its details slowly.

The De Santis family sourced antiques, carpets, artwork, decorative objects, and furniture from auctions, markets, private homes, and specialist artisans.

Murano chandeliers illuminate elaborate rooms. Bronze lighting adds warmth, while marble appears throughout the property.

Italian textiles play an equally important role. Silk, embroidered fabrics, fine linens, and patterned surfaces soften the grand architecture.

Meanwhile, objects that would normally be functional become decorative.

Even televisions can disappear inside beautifully crafted trunks. Bathrooms become private retreats of stone, silk, polished fittings, and deep tubs.

Consequently, staying here offers an immersion into Italian decorative arts as much as a luxury hotel experience.

BOOK Passalacqua Lake Como

LXURI Travel Blog | The Lenendary Pool at Passalacqua Lake Como — **The Lenendary Pool at Passalacqua Lake Como**

The Legendary Passalacqua Pool

Then there is the pool.

Set on a garden terrace below the Villa, Passalacqua Lake Como has created one of the most photogenic swimming pools in Italy.

Ancient climbing roses, mature trees, gardens, and views of the lake form its natural backdrop. However, the playful design gives the pool its distinctive personality.

Floral parasols by J.J. Martin bring bursts of pattern and colour to the terrace. They capture the joyful maximalism associated with her Milan-based lifestyle brand, La DoubleJ.

The result channels the spirit of la dolce vita.

You can easily imagine the setting through the lens of legendary society photographer Slim Aarons: elegant travellers relaxing beneath parasols, the Italian sun overhead, and Lake Como shimmering in the distance.

Yet this isn’t merely a pool designed for photographs.

Its proportions allow guests to swim proper laps. Alternatively, spend the afternoon floating, reading, enjoying a drink, or simply admiring the view.

The Winter Garden and La DoubleJ Style

Just steps from the pool, a historic greenhouse has become the Winter Garden, an inviting all-day bar.

J.J. Martin brought her signature sense of colour and pattern to the project. The resulting space combines vintage-inspired glamour with contemporary Milanese energy.

It is joyful rather than restrained.

That spirit makes an intriguing contrast with the more formal interiors of the Villa. Moreover, it demonstrates how Passalacqua mixes historical preservation with moments of unexpected personality.

Shop La DoubleJ at Mytheresa Life

LXURI readers inspired by Passalacqua’s poolside aesthetic can discover La DoubleJ through our partner, Mytheresa Life.

Founded by J.J. Martin in Milan in 2015, La DoubleJ celebrates the exuberant side of Italian design.

Martin’s background as a journalist and vintage collector helped shape the brand’s distinctive identity. Bold prints, saturated colours, and expressive patterns appear across fashion, accessories, tableware, and home décor.

The brand expanded into ceramics in 2017, including distinctive dinner, soup, and dessert plates produced with Bitossi Home.

For anyone hoping to bring a little Passalacqua-inspired Italian maximalism home, La DoubleJ offers plenty of inspiration.

SHOP LA DOUBLEJ AT MYTHERESA

Dining at Passalacqua: Italian Food Without Pretension

Food at Passalacqua reflects the property’s private-villa philosophy.

Rather than relying on overly complicated presentations, the culinary approach celebrates generous Italian cooking, quality ingredients, and the pleasures of eating well.

Breakfast feels particularly personal.

The kitchen has an inviting residential character, creating the impression that you are a guest in an exceptional Italian home. Fresh cheeses, breads, pastries, fruit, and regional ingredients help turn the first meal of the day into an event of its own.

Meanwhile, lunches and dinners embrace the flavours of Italy.

Pasta, seasonal vegetables, local produce, and carefully sourced ingredients take priority. The Garden Terrace provides an especially romantic setting, allowing the surrounding landscape to become part of the dining experience.

Therefore, food here doesn’t need to compete with the setting. Instead, it complements it.

The Passalacqua Spa and Underground World

Passalacqua’s wellness experience offers another surprise. Discover more.

The spa extends into an atmospheric subterranean world beneath the gardens. Here, an 18th-century underground gallery creates a dramatic setting for wellness.

Guests can experience a sauna and steam bath within vaulted stone surroundings. Deeper inside, a heated indoor pool combines stone, water, light, and views toward the Italian gardens.

Above ground, the wellness experience continues.

Yoga and meditation form part of the hotel’s activities. Meanwhile, a gym occupies a former greenhouse and extends toward the olive grove.

The hotel has also introduced an outdoor treatment area in the orchard, creating a closer connection between wellness and the landscape.

Together, these spaces make the spa feel integrated into Passalacqua’s history rather than added as a modern hotel amenity.

Seven Acres of Gardens Made for Wandering

At many hotels, gardens provide scenery. At Passalacqua, they are part of the experience.

Seven acres of landscaped grounds descend toward Lake Como and the private jetty.

Terraces, fountains, roses, olive trees, magnolias, jasmine, and shaded pathways encourage slow exploration. Moreover, the constantly changing light gives the gardens a different character throughout the day.

Morning is soft and peaceful.

By afternoon, the lake takes on brighter blue and cyan tones. Then, as evening approaches, the landscape becomes warmer and more romantic.

The hotel’s vintage-style orange Fiat 500 Spiaggina adds another charming touch. It can whisk guests around the property while providing a playful contrast to the Villa’s centuries-old grandeur.

Discover Moltrasio and Lake Como

Passalacqua is located in Moltrasio, a small village on Lake Como’s western shore.

Ochre houses climb the slopes toward Mount Bisbino, while narrow lanes, local restaurants, and small shops maintain the area’s traditional character.

The setting provides a quieter alternative to some of Lake Como’s busiest destinations.

However, guests remain well positioned for exploring the region.

The city of Como is approximately 15 minutes away by car. Milan, meanwhile, is roughly an hour away, depending on traffic.

Lake Como itself remains the main attraction.

Take a boat across the water. Explore historic villas and gardens. Visit villages along the shoreline. Enjoy long lunches overlooking the lake. Or simply remain at Passalacqua and allow the landscape to set the pace.

After all, this is a hotel designed around the traditional Italian concept of villeggiatura.

Historically, wealthy Italian families escaped city life during the summer and moved to their country villas. Days became slower. Friends visited. Meals lasted longer. Leisure, conversation, and the surrounding landscape became priorities.

Passalacqua brings that philosophy into the modern age.

BOOK Passalacqua Lake Como

Discover Italian Luxury | Passalacqua Lake Como | LXURI — **Passalacqua Lake Como | Discover Italian Luxury**

Service With a Personal Italian Character

A hotel this elaborate could easily become overly formal. Instead, service is designed to preserve the feeling of staying in a private home.

Staff provide attentive, highly personalized hospitality while maintaining a relaxed atmosphere.

That approach reflects the De Santis family’s connection to Lake Como.

Rather than treating hospitality as a formula, Passalacqua emphasizes personal interaction. Guests are encouraged to feel as though the estate belongs to them for the duration of their stay.

With just 24 rooms, that sense of intimacy is possible in a way that would be difficult to recreate in a much larger resort.

Passalacqua Lake Como - Image Slider 4 | LXURI — Discover Passalacqua Lake Como

Passalacqua Lake Como - Image Slider 3 | LXURI

Passalacqua Lake Como - Image Slider 5 | LXURI

Passalacqua Lake Como - Image Slider 6 | LXURI

Passalacqua Lake Como - Image Slider 2 | LXURI

Sustainability and Thoughtful Luxury

Passalacqua also combines historic luxury with modern environmental thinking.

One particularly interesting feature is its approach to climate control, which draws on the naturally cold water found deep within Lake Como.

Meanwhile, restoring and repurposing historic buildings gives existing architecture a new life rather than replacing it.

The gardens also remain fundamental to the property. Flowers grown on the estate appear in arrangements throughout the hotel, while the landscape itself provides the foundation for many guest experiences.

It is a subtle approach to sustainability that fits the property’s character.

Accessibility at Passalacqua

Travellers with accessibility requirements should discuss their individual needs with the hotel before booking.

Passalacqua has two rooms designed to accommodate guests with disabilities, and the main Villa has a lift.

However, the historic nature of the estate presents limitations. Its terraced landscape, old buildings, pathways, stairs, and gardens mean that not every area is fully accessible.

Planning ahead will therefore help ensure the most comfortable stay.

Why Passalacqua Is One of the World’s Great Luxury Hotels

Passalacqua’s reputation has grown remarkably quickly since opening as a hotel in 2022.

In 2023, it was named The World’s Best Hotel in the inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels ranking.

A year later, it ranked No. 2 worldwide and was named The Best Hotel in Europe. It also received the Carlo Alberto Best Boutique Hotel Award.

Then, in 2025, Passalacqua ranked No. 4 in the world while once again receiving recognition as The Best Hotel in Europe and Best Boutique Hotel.

Those awards are impressive. However, they also make sense once you understand the property.

Passalacqua offers something that even extraordinary luxury hotels struggle to manufacture: personality.

The architecture is authentic. The history is genuine. The art and craftsmanship feel collected rather than specified. Most importantly, the De Santis family’s vision gives the hotel a strong sense of identity.

Learn More or Book Passalacqua With Tablet Hotels

Travellers planning a stay can learn more about or book Passalacqua with LXURI partner Tablet Hotels.

Tablet Hotels specializes in distinctive luxury and boutique properties around the world. Therefore, it is a natural place to discover a hotel as individual as Passalacqua.

Before choosing your accommodation, compare the different personalities of the Villa, Palazz, and Casa al Lago.

Choose the Villa for the grandest historical experience. Consider the Palazz for warmth, romance, and privacy. Alternatively, select Casa al Lago for an intimate connection to the water.

Because Passalacqua has only 24 accommodations, planning well ahead is advisable, particularly for stays during Lake Como’s popular spring and summer seasons.

Book Flights and Car Rentals With Expedia

Once your hotel is selected, the next step is planning how to reach Lake Como.

LXURI readers can book flights and car rentals with our partner Expedia.

Milan is the principal international gateway for many travellers visiting the region. From there, a rental car provides flexibility for exploring Lombardy and the towns surrounding Lake Como.

However, keep in mind that many historic lakeside villages have narrow streets and limited parking. Therefore, a combination of driving and boat transportation can make exploring the region more enjoyable.

A car is particularly useful if your Italian itinerary extends beyond Lake Como. Milan, Bergamo, the Italian Alps, and other destinations across Lombardy can easily become part of a longer northern Italian journey. Explore travel with Expedia.

Shop Luxury Luggage From Carl Friedrik

A Lake Como escape deserves luggage that feels equally refined.

Before departing, shop luxury luggage from LXURI partner Carl Friedrik.

The brand is known for sophisticated travel pieces that combine clean design with practical functionality. Its understated aesthetic works especially well for travellers who prefer timeless luxury rather than prominent branding.

Consider a premium suitcase for longer Italian journeys, complemented by a refined carry-on or travel bag for shorter stays.

Well-designed luggage can also make multi-destination travel easier. This becomes particularly useful when combining Lake Como with Milan, Florence, Venice, Rome, or another European destination.

After all, arriving at one of Italy’s most elegant hotels calls for travelling in style. Shop Carl Friedrik today.

Is Passalacqua Lake Como Worth Visiting?

For travellers seeking privacy, history, design, and exceptional Italian hospitality, the answer is an emphatic yes.

Passalacqua Lake Como offers much more than five-star accommodation. It creates an entire world around the rituals of Italian living.

Wake beneath frescoed ceilings. Wander through gardens perfumed with jasmine and roses. Swim above Lake Como beneath extravagant parasols. Enjoy pasta on a terrace. Retreat underground for a steam or swim. Then watch evening settle over the mountains and water.

Above all, Passalacqua encourages guests to slow down.

That may ultimately be its greatest luxury.

In an era when hotels compete through ever-larger spas, restaurants, suites, and amenities, Passalacqua succeeds by feeling intimate and intensely personal.

It is a grand Italian villa that has remembered how to be a home.

And for a few unforgettable days on Lake Como, guests are invited to make it their own.

BOOK Passalacqua Lake Como

Passalacqua Lake Como: Discover an Extraordinary Italian Escape

Passalacqua Lake Como: Discover a Lavish Retreat

Passalacqua Lake Como: A Private Villa Above the Water

A Remarkable History Dating Back Centuries

The De Santis Family Brings Passalacqua Back to Life