VILLA CASTAGNOLA, LUGANO

Old-world charm on Lake Lugano

Facing the lake, the Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola offers traditional elegance and lots of old-world charm set in a beautiful park with a lovely view on Lake Lugano and the Monte San Salvatore.

The hotel has partnered with Clarins in their spa tucked away beneath the hotel. It offers a steam room, sauna and relaxation area and a fantastic 17-meter indoor pool with direct access onto the park for sunbathing. The gardens particularly stand out with their lush vegetation including banana trees and a number of sculptures. There is also a clay tennis court here. And if you'd like to enjoy the lake, just across the road, the hotel offers its own private lido equipped with deck chairs for sunbathing and a lovely relaxation corner with comfy sofas. The view on Monte San Salvatore from the south-facing lido is spectacular.

This hotel is particularly memorable for its old-world charm, its beautiful park and its love for art. From the super attentive and friendly staff to the beautiful setting, it strives to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.

The Villa was originally a winter residence belonging to a Russian aristocratic family. In 1885, the Schnyder family bought it and opened a guesthouse. It remained in the same family until 1982. The lounges and lobby are a testimony to its rich historical past. The large drawing room particularly stands out with its imposing fireplace; the room is bursting with antiques and tapestries collected by the family over the years.

Today the Villa offers 42 rooms and 32 suites, all decorated in an individual, traditional style, three restaurants, a spa, tropical gardens, a lakeside lido and countless unique pieces of art.

The Villa also has a string of separate living-rooms and conference facilities all decorated in their own individual styles, many featuring impressive works of art collected over the years. It also offers three restaurants, La Rucola, Le Relais with 15 Gault Millau points and the Arte, located in a separate building across the street on the lake. L'Arte is the only Michelin-star restaurant in Lugano and also doubles up as an art gallery, exhibiting the works of a different artist every six months. The main restaurant, Le Relais, has a beautiful terrace, just above the gardens and facing the lake. Breakfast is served here and in the evenings a pianist serenades diners. There is also a wonderful outdoor bar tucked away on its own little terrace between the banana palms, perfect for unwinding before dinner.

I stayed in a junior suite that was very spacious, in fact it was comprised of two rooms joined together, one with a lounge and dining area, the other with the bedroom and had two separate bathrooms and a spacious balcony facing the lake. I loved the super-fragrant jasmine tumbling over the railings. All the rooms I saw were particularly spacious. Their largest suite offers over 100m2 of beautiful living space on the top floor with two separate bedrooms and a large living area. The hotel goes to great lengths to continually restore the property and redecorate.