Grand Hotel Imperiale

Compared to Como’s other historic lakeside villas, the Imperiale is somewhat unusual, though no less beautiful. Having been rebuilt after the Second World War, it combines the straight lines of Rationalist architecture with the floral exuberance of Art Nouveau, making for a stylishly beautiful interior, but the view is classic Como; beautiful terraces overlooking the glimmering water on one side, and the little hilltop village of Moltrasio on the other. Similarly spectacular is the Imperialino Restaurant, where Lombard and Piedmontese dishes are served up in style, using fish from the lake or meat and vegetables from the surrounding countryside across a delectable menu. After a day spent strolling through the stunning villas, gardens and villages which line the lake, there’s nothing better to return to than the Imperiale’s I-Spa, a state-of-the-art facility hewn from Moltrasio stone and offering a range of indulgent wellness therapies.