Q: Buongiorno Valentina. Firstly, a huge congratulations on Passalacqua’s multiple awards, including World’s Best Hotel 2023 and Best Hotel in Europe 2023. What was your reaction to receiving these awards and how did you celebrate? Q: Passalacqua has such a unique history. What do you believe are the key elements that set Passalacqua apart? Q: When developing Passalacqua into the beautiful boutique hotel it is today, you had in mind the idea of bringing the spirit of meraviglia back to travel – how has this been achieved through design and experiences on offer, such as the inclusion of books? Q: As a true Como-born local, where are some of your favourite places to explore and eat for an authentic experience of Lake Como? Q: As well as Passalacqua, you also own the spectacular Grand Hotel Tremezzo – what exciting new projects are on the horizon for you and these amazing properties? Q: What are three books you would recommend for your guests to read to get a greater sense of Passalacqua? Lake Como Idyll Italian Chic The Charterhouse of Parma Why do book collections matter? Book a consultation with a ~personal curator Contact Quick Links Follow us @ultimatelibrary Join our community
Passalacqua's Valentina De Santis on the World’s Best Hotel
14 Jan 2024
© Mariela Medina
On the shores of Lake Como, surrounded by seven acres of landscaped gardens, sits the luxury hotel
Passalacqua
, a magnificently restored 18th century villa that was once the home of composer Vicenzo Bellini. The creation of the De Santis family, owners of Grand Hotel Tremezzo, it features breathtaking suites that offer every guest a unique experience. Ultimate Library designed a collection of books for Passalaqua’s library and suites connecting its international guests to the property’s rich heritage, beautiful garden and picturesque natural lake views. Two years later, we had the honour of talking to CEO Valentina De Santis about this enchanting hotel, its fascinating history and the process of bringing it into the modern day while maintaining its authentic feel.
What we experienced at the World’s 50 Best Ceremony Award was incredible, like an unattainable dream that unexpectedly becomes reality. After celebrating in London together with my travelling companions Silvio Vettorello, General Manager, and Delia Facchini, PR Director, we returned to Passalacqua where the whole team – and the guests as well – welcomed us with immense joy and applause. As a big family, we celebrated all together. A truly emotional moment that I will hardly forget!~
Passalacqua is the passion project of my family. Our idea was to bring this mansion and its secular park back to life with love, respect and thoughtfulness, recreating the unique timeless charm of ‘vivere Italiano’. Every single aspect of the property’s interiors, including the meticulous restoration of the frescoes, hand blown glass chandeliers to mirrored secret mini bars, has been personally overseen and curated. Every room and suite has its own soul and something different from the others. Every single corner of Passalacqua has been imagined and designed with heart, without forgetting to preserve its history.
© Ruben Ortiz
Moltrasio © Ricky Monti
Renovating the historic Villa Passalacqua to convert it into a jewel property was a labour of love, it was like choosing the interiors for our own home, a true family affair. Libraries, in our home and like in the majority of the houses, occupy a special place. The books in them tell a story about who we are, our interests and most intimate thoughts. Passalacqua is a private home and a stay here is a stay with our Italian family, and the choice of the books in the library perfectly reflect our love for Italy, for travel and for culture.
After purchasing Passalacqua, I found the authentic beauty of Moltrasio, which in my opinion is one of the most underrated and undiscovered villages of the lake (and this is why I love it so much!). It is literally a place of stone and water, as its inhabitants used to describe it. Getting lost in its ancient cobbled streets makes you feel like you're in a dream. Here, you can embrace the life of locals at its best, forgetting you are a tourist. You’ll be surprised by a waterfall in the heart of the village, by the bells of the church ringing, by the most delicious gelato on the planet… words cannot really describe it!~~In regards to my favourite places to eat, just very close to Passalacqua, in Cernobbio, I love the homey ambience of Trattoria del Glicine, and – in a different way – the cool atmosphere at the lakeside Harry’s Bar, a place to be for Como’s viveurs. At the heart of the lake I like stopping at the charming Tirlindana, with its unique location pieds-dans-l’eau in front of Comacina Island, or at Al Veluu, with its glorious views over the Golfo di Venere and Balbianello. But, please allow me to tell you – and not because I’m biassed – that the not-to-miss dining experience is hands down a delicious lunch on the beach at our Grand Hotel Tremezzo’s Da Giacomo al Lago. I’m sure you’ll love it!
I am extremely proud to have had the honour to transport our historic jewels into the new millennium. I have always tried to uphold the elite tradition of vacationing on Lake Como, treating our guests, season after season, to the result of our long history, while at the same time surprising them with news and updates that make the hotel so popular year after year.~~We are working on some exciting news for our 2024 season, like Passalacqua’s indoor pool and some interesting culinary delights and outdoor pursuits at both properties we will reveal soon. And we’ll keep Passalacqua open for the winter holiday season – we cannot wait to celebrate the festivities with our guests!~
Some of the best books in our libraries at Passalacqua are coffee table books by some of my favourite editors, like Assouline, Monocle and Taschen. Assouline has just dedicated a beautiful issue of its Travel Series to Lake Como, it’s called
Lake Como Idyll
, and many photos of the Grand Hotel Tremezzo and Passalacqua have been included. I was so happy that I displayed a copy in each of our suites! I also particularly love the recent
Italian Chic
, by my friends Andrea Ferolla and Daria Reina. Going back in time, a book I’ve always been attached to, a classic, is
The
Charterhouse of Parma
, and I have to tell you that I’ve thought of it while imagining Passalacqua’s past, wandering around its corridors and its park.
BY Massimo Nava
Wish to experience the beauty of Villa d'Este, Passalacqua, and Villa del Balbianello with their lush gardens and fragrant greenery?
Lake Como Idyll
promises a magical Italian getaway full of romance, charm, and breathtaking landscapes.
BY Andrea Ferolla & Daria Reina
Take a tour of an Italian’s Italy, off the main roads traversed by tourists and onto hidden side streets or off the grid altogether, to corners lesser known but filled to bursting with the details that define timeless Italian style.
BY Henri Stendhal
Judged by Balzac to be the most important French novel of its time,
The Charterhouse of Parma
is a compelling novel of extravagance and daring, blending the intrigues of the Italian court with the romance and excitement of youth.
We want to thank Valentina for being our expert this month. Discover more about Passalacqua on their
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We believe in the power of books to create a sense of place and new perspectives. Our bespoke book collections have a great impact on a guest’s overall experience of a hotel or resort. It’s small extras like books in rooms and library spaces that make a guest’s stay extra special, and many of our clients receive high praise for their book collections. For private clients they make a house their home.
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