Il Sereno Lago di Como Resort Overview

Lake Como has lured me back to its idyllic shores a few occasions above the a long time. I’ve stayed in sleepy villages with very little much more than a church and a bus quit, as perfectly as in vacationer-favourite cities with glitzy retailers and restaurants. I’ve gone on a lot of a boat tour, stopping at historic internet sites this sort of as the famed Villa del Balbianello (a filming spot for Star Wars and 007’s “On line casino Royale”). I’ve had standard Italian foods highlighting ingredients and wines nearby to the space.

So I was taken by surprise when, on my most recent trip, I received to expertise the lake in a total new way.

Il Sereno Lago di Como, voted the greatest resort in Europe, the most effective vacation resort in Italy, and No. 4 hotel in the environment in Vacation + Leisure‘s 2023 World’s Finest Awards, features friends a single working experience that no other Como lodge does: self-driving a Riva motorboat on the lake.

A Riva is the Ferrari of the boating world (the two brand names are truly longtime companions, normally collaborating on speedboats). In 1822, Pietro Riva, the brand’s founder, was born on the shores of Lake Como in the city of Laglio. As Il Sereno’s internet site suggests of Riva, “There is no a person on the lake that greater understands the ebbs and flows of this sought-right after place.”

Speedy ahead to August 2023, and I’m cruising up the lake with a buddy in one of the hotel’s wood Riva Jetto’s. Our hair whipping in the wind, each and every now and then we would allow out an instinctive yell, fueled by the rush of gliding about the really system of water we had been marveling at considering that we arrived. It was just us and the lake — no tour information facilitating the journey, no driver choosing the route. I felt absolutely free, immersed, present. (The bottle of Bollinger champagne we took on board may possibly have performed a element.)

As we headed back to shore (soon after providing ourselves “five additional minutes” a quantity of situations), my buddy experienced a momentary panic: “Wait, where’s the resort?” It wasn’t that we were misplaced — we ended up heading straight for the assets — but the hotel has a way of blending into its environment, which is remarkable considering it is a 7-12 months-previous fashionable constructing designed of wooden, stone, and steel on a lake entire of historic villas that day back again centuries.

Il Sereno marketplaces by itself as the only contemporary lodge on the lake, which means it is the only hotel that was an totally new establish, relatively than being crafted into an existing villa. Some locals told me they ended up worried it would be an eyesore, but ended up pleasantly surprised by the concluded product or service. Which is mostly thanks to Spanish architect Patricia Urquiola, who seamlessly blended modern style with the organic surroundings.

On a lake that has some of the most lavish inns in the earth, Il Sereno has uncovered a way to give guests an knowledge that stands out. Examine on for more about the most effective vacation resort in Europe, as voted by T+L visitors.

The Rooms

Il Sereno has 40 suites, all with a view of the drinking water and a sleek, timeless layout marked by dim woods and leather-based, caramel-coloured marble, brass finishings, and pops of orange and inexperienced. You might even detect an unanticipated iridescent close desk below and there — one particular of my preferred facts.

Foods and Drink

The hotel has a selection of eating selections. Most notably, its Michelin-starred cafe, which chef Raffaele Lenzi states is a tribute to his “Italian spirit,” serving 3 distinctive tasting menus. Then there is the Lobby Bar, with a terrace that may possibly as effectively have been designed for aperitivo. Last but not least, a lunch cafe serves everything from salads to refreshing pasta, which friends can take pleasure in poolside or at a table future to the lake.

Functions and Facilities

A Como area after told me that you seriously get to know the lake by paying time on the h2o, and the lodge features a range of approaches to do just that. In addition to self-driving a Riva Jetto, you can also opt for a guided boat tour, possibly getting in the sights from the water or halting to check out cities like Bellagio and Varenna.

If you’d somewhat remain on land, the hotel has cooking classes and wine tastings, as effectively as mountaineering excursions that will acquire you into the bordering mountains. That is, if you can pull by yourself away from the heated freshwater infinity pool. The pool — with sights of the lake and mountains, nearby cities and passing boats — is perhaps the most beautiful I’ve at any time observed.

The Spa

Many Lake Como villas have old dàrsenas, or boathouses concealed below the setting up at drinking water degree. Il Sereno’s Valmont spa, as perfectly as the 24-hour health club, has been developed into the dàrsena that was section of the original house. The procedure home for my therapeutic massage seemed straight into the boathouse and by a grand stone archway foremost out to the carefully lapping drinking water. Additionally, the spa is just off the pool, generating it straightforward to pop in for a quick therapeutic massage or facial involving dips, which is exactly what I did.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Seeking at the lodge facial area on, one particular of the initial things to capture my eye was the greenery — a single vertical garden on the façade and a different guiding the creating. Designed by French botanist Patrick Blanc and Italian landscape artist Flavio Pollano, the installations have virtually 5,000 plants between them, and they’re not just for show. Il Sereno was certified by CasaClima, an Italian high quality assurance company that recognizes organizations for electricity-efficient and sustainable design.

The resort was also built to assure all popular spots are wheelchair obtainable, as well as just one dedicated suite for guests with mobility requirements.

The Place

Locale is a critical portion of any Lake Como keep, nevertheless it truly is usually forgotten, as lots of travelers don’t understand just how big the lake is. It usually takes in excess of an hour to drive from the southern tip to the northern tip, and the coast is dotted with various cities, from the bustling city of Como to vacationer-favourite Bellagio to sleepy Torno.

Il Sereno is located in Torno, and as someone who’s usually striving to stay clear of the crowds, I think it is one of the very best places on the lake. The architecture is postcard-best, and there are a handful of neighborhood dining establishments, but you never have to be concerned about weaving by means of flocks of persons. That mentioned, if you want to be a limited stroll from bars, restaurants, and stores, this could not be the spot for you.

There is a ferry stop in Torno with service to Bellagio, Varenna, and other charming villages all-around the lake, and the resort is just an hour’s push from Milan-Malpensa Airport.