Villa d'Este

Of Lake Como, the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote, “This lake exceeds anything I ever beheld in beauty." For the French writer Stendhal, "here everything is noble and touching, everything speaks of love." This inverted-Y-shaped body of water 30 miles north of Milan, was treasured by travelers long before 19th century writers "discovered" it. Since the 16th century, in fact, "Lago di Como" has been popular among royals and other elite who built private villas on its shores. Over the centuries, many of these residences have been transformed into luxury hotels. The finest among them is Villa d'Este, in Cernobbio, on the lake's southwest leg.

For more information: Villa d'Este