Hotel Belvedere

Hotel Belvedere

The hotel perches above the small fishing hamlet of Pescallo, on the eastern slope of the peninsula that splits Lake Como in two. From this position, the view takes in both arms of the lake and the Alps beyond, which is not a view you get from the more conspicuous addresses on the waterfront. Belvedere has been in the same family since 1880, five generations of the Martinelli-Manoni family, and is currently run by sisters Giulia and Tiziana, who have updated it carefully without flattening the character that comes from a house genuinely loved over time. There are 60 rooms, individually furnished, most with a balcony or terrace looking over the lake or the private gardens. The gardens themselves are a rarity in Bellagio: an acre of tiered lawn with shaded spots, an outdoor heated pool with the kind of view that makes it difficult to get out, and a Jacuzzi at the edge that appears to spill directly into the lake. The spa below has a Turkish bath, sauna, ice room, Himalayan salt room, and multi-sensory showers, all included for guests which, at this level of property, is not a given. The restaurant Albòri runs from April to October on a panoramic terrace with the same uninterrupted view. The food is rooted in the region, fresh, seasonal, and cooked with the confidence of somewhere that doesn't need to try too hard. Bellagio's centre is a short walk downhill, the ferry terminal is closer still, and the hotel runs a free shuttle so the slope doesn't become an obstacle. Free parking on site is quietly significant for anyone arriving by car along those roads. The short version: A fifth-generation family hotel above Bellagio with one of the best views on the lake, a generous spa, and the unhurried atmosphere of somewhere that has been welcoming guests for nearly 150 years and knows exactly how to do it.