What: A Renaissance palace on the shore by the village of Cernobbio. It has a 25-acre landscaped garden and a history that is no less garlanded.
It was built in the 16th century by Tolomeo Gallio, Cardinal of Como. Caroline of Brunswick, estranged wife of the Prince Regent, lived here in 1815 and changed its name from the Villa del Garovo to the Villa d’Este.
In the 1870s it became an extremely smart hotel and has stayed that way ever since. Why go: It’s hardly surprising that guests who arrive here for a two-week stay rarely poke their noses outside the Villa’s grounds.
Once you’ve tired of the delights of the gigantic swimming pool that floats on the waters of the lake, you can try your hand at canoeing, paddle boarding and speed boating.
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