Inside the world's best hotels 2023

Italy In low season, standard room rates at the Passalacqua hotel start at 1,300 euros and increase to 1,000-1,500 euros per room in high summer.

Passalacqua opened in 2022 after three years of renovation, with 24 rooms and nearly 100 employees. The owners, the De Santis family, are locals, known for their hospitality and love of luxury. The De Santis couple handed over the property to their 41-year-old daughter, Valentina De Santis, with the task of returning Passalacqua to its pre-pandemic glory.

Passalacqua at night. Photo: CNN — Passalacqua at night. Photo: *CNN*

Despite being a few steps from the bustling village of Moltrasio, the hotel is quiet and private. Pushing the gate to enter, following the paths, visitors will be led to magnificent rooms and beautiful views of Lake Como. Each room's ceiling is painted in gorgeous colors with images of clouds and angels. One of the most attractive features is the underground stone tunnel that leads from the hotel to the lake. "Mysterious and fascinating tunnels," one traveler commented on Tripadvisor.

Every detail in the hotel is “close to the heart,” says Velentina, including chandeliers made from Italy’s famous Murano glass, intricate Venetian mirrors and bed linens made from expensive materials. Surrounding the hotel is a 28,000-square-meter terraced garden with manicured trees and fountains, where guests can spend time sipping drinks, practicing yoga or relaxing by the pool.

The hotel also hides many secrets. "When you step through the gate, you feel like you've entered another world - a world you don't want to leave," says Valentina.

Standing in the terraced garden overlooking the lake, especially when the sun sets and the garden lights are turned on, many visitors say they feel like they are lost in a magical world because the scenery is so beautiful.

Hotel lobby. Photo: CNN — Hotel lobby. Photo: *CNN*

In 1878, Count Passalacqua, a local aristocrat, bought the villa that is now the Passalacqua Hotel. It quickly became a major playground for the aristocracy of the time. Horse-drawn carriages would often bring guests to the villa, and concerts would continue all night.

Like Count Passalacqua, the De Santis family saw something special in the estate. Chef Alessandro Rinaldi celebrates classic Italian cuisine. The kitchen is open all day for guests to linger over for a snack or join in the baking or cooking.

The best time to visit is early in the morning, when breakfast is served in the style of an Italian summer countryside, the aroma of coffee mixed with the rich aroma of orange marmalade, says the hotel owner.

A hotel room. Photo: CNN — A hotel room. Photo: *CNN*

And what would a hotel be without guests? Vettorello says what they loved most about their stay was the feeling of villeggiatura – a stay in a rural setting.

All this luxury comes at a price. Rooms without lake views start at €1,300, with a nice view starting at €1,700 in November, the lowest month of the year. In high summer, prices rise to €1,000 to €1,500 for a standard room. A deluxe room starts at €5,000.

When asked what makes this property unique and unlike anywhere else in the world, Valentina said: “It’s a place of magic created from the heart,” where guests feel like they’ve stepped into a peaceful setting straight out of a Jane Austen novel.

On September 19, Passalacqua won the World's 50 Best Hotels 2023 award, an annual event of 50 Best. This award is considered to be as prestigious and famous as World Travel Awards or Skytrax in the aviation industry.

Anh Minh (According to CNN )

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