At sunset, the summer light in Italy hits differently. A Pantone-esque golden light washes over the country famed for its compelling historical architecture and even more captivating natural beauty. The greens seems more verdant, the blues more azure and the building facades tempt you in with stories of what they might have witnessed. One of those places that have a story or two to tell is the Mandarin Oriental, Lago Di Como.
A half-hour north of Milan, in the charming village of Blevio, the property sprawls out within a chic 18-century estate of buildings built clinging to the banks of the impossibly postcard backdrop of Lake Como. Nestled between a luxuriant botanical park and the lake, the resort is the embodiment of a seductive blend of Italian style, oriental charm and natural beauty.
While the stunning main villa – Villa Roccabruna – was originally built for opera singer Giuditta Pasta, it failed in several previous attempts to maximize the opportunity presented by its location. Taken over by the Mandarin Oriental group in 2018, it became the famed hotel chain’s first European resort, a status that it takes full advantage of. Due to the historical architecture of the nine separate villas, each of the 73 rooms boasts a unique layouts – from private balconies and stand-alone baths to oak parquet floors and coffered ceiling – although all are luxuriously furnished in a classic Italian style.
Immersed within the lush botanical gardens (designed by renowned interior designer Eric Egan and landscape architect Patrizia Pozzi) is another of the aces in the hotel’s hand – the Michelin-starred L’Aria restaurant. Serving sophisticated Italian cuisine with Japanese influences from either its greenhouse-inspired dining area or its lakeside al fresco terrace, the kitchen was awarded its star a short seven-months after opening. With an open-plan kitchen, guests can watch Chef Massimiliano Blasone and his team weave their magic, using farm-to-table ingredients selected from the property’s herb and vegetable garden.
Pleasingly, the property is putting its lofty reputation to great use behind the scenes committing to multiple initiatives including a drive to eliminate all single-use plastics and, thanks to a partnership with a non-profit association, offering internships to refugees with a desire to find them full employment.
At an impressive 1,300sqm, the resort’s spa is the largest on the lake, comprising a variety of private spa suites and comfortable treatment rooms alongside heat and water therapies. Meanwhile, on the lake an eye-catching floating pool, offers a truly unique experience to guests – or those passing by in hired Riva yachts – and further evidence of the level of luxury that the Mandarin Oriental Lake Como provides.
It’s the kind of place where you want to dress-for-dinner or, better yet, lakeside sunset aperitivi.
mandarinoriental.com/lake-como
