Lake Como’s Peaceful Paradise: Why You Should Stay At Passalacqua
Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy trilogy is divided into Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradisio. The reader ends the story in Heaven, aka Paradisio. Dante’s Paradisio combines Greco-Roman mythology and Church dogma to create the writer’s version of heaven. But, where can you presently find Paradisio: I found it on the banks of Lake Como, Passalacqua. I spoke with Sales & Marketing Coordinator Micaela Borghi to learn more about the property.
1. Why should someone stay at Passalacqua?
Passalacqua is meant to be our guests' private home, where they can enjoy a unique and intimate experience and feel like they are in their casa on Lake Como. Passalacqua eschews formal dining areas for a relaxed ‘home away from home’ approach, with guests treated to authentic Italian home cooking using fresh ‘garden to table’ ingredients.
2. How does Passalacqua honor its past and embrace innovation?
Built on land originally owned by Pope Innocent XI, the villa was constructed in the 18th Century by Count Andrea Lucini-Passalacqua, who worked with architect Felice Soave and designer Giocondo Albertolli to bring his vision of making one of the largest villas on Lake Como come to life. In the years that followed, the Villa became a gathering place for some of Italy’s most prominent figures, such as Vincenzo Bellini, who made Villa Passalacqua his home in 1829, composing two of his most famous operas, Norma and Sonnambula.
© Ruben Ortiz
During the restoration works, the De Santis family has worked tirelessly with local artisans and small, generations-old Italian companies, drawing on their relationships to ensure that a sense of place, heritage, and high-quality craftsmanship resonates throughout the property.
3. How does Passalacqua incorporate its mission and vision into its services?
Despite being a 5-star luxury property, Passalacqua wants to make its customers feel at home with a family approach typical of old Italian families. Guests are encouraged to visit the kitchens and speak to the team to discuss their menu for the day, bearing freshly foraged vegetables to contribute to the meal or partake in an ad hoc pasta or gelato-making session. Fresh produce is gathered each morning from the kitchen gardens to be transformed into dishes that distill all the season’s goodness. During Spring, the garden is filled with aromas from seasonal herbs, including basil, peppermint, coriander, thyme, and wild fennel – all waiting to be handpicked and used in the Chef’s daily creations.
© Ruben Ortiz
4. How does Passalacqua add to one's experience in Lake Como?
Created in the 18th century as a place of the heart on Lake Como for friends, for love and leisure, for the pleasures of the table, and the Italian art of dolce far niente, Passalacqua is that same place of wonder today: it’s all about reviving the lost art of travel known as villeggiatura and making new and uniques memories that connect us with our shared past.
© Ruben Ortiz
5. What is the future of the property?
Valentina De Santis's motto is “If you can dream it, you can do it." With this motto in mind, Valentina and her family will invest in the properties and guest experiences.
© Ruben Ortiz
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