Passalacqua, one of Lake Como’s most spectacular private homes, opened its doors in June 2022 as a 24-suite hotel after a three-year restoration project. Standing above the village of Moltrasio, with seven acres of terraced gardens sweeping down to the lake’s shore, this 18th Century Villa is steeped in history. Passalacqua is the passion project of one of Italy’s leading hoteliers – the De Santis family, owners of the iconic Grand Hotel Tremezzo. Less than two years after opening, the hotel has unveiled its latest hidden secret: a brand-new spa located in the tunnels of the villa and in the ancient greenhouse, overlooking the magnificent gardens and with panoramic views of the lake. This includes the addition of an 18-metre indoor pool, connected through the atmospheric tunnels. Passalacqua has also partnered with Seed to Skin Tuscany – a natural skincare line, custom-made in a state-of-the-art laboratory, where a modern, scientific approach is firmly rooted in nature and curative traditions dating back to 1129.
AN ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECE
The Passalacqua Spa is a space where one can truly step back in time as each detail has been meticulously designed in an ambitious project, imagined by the De Santis family and executed by Venelli Kramer studio. Marking a new interior design chapter for Passalacqua, the spa aims to preserve the property’s history while breathing new life into an underground space that risked being forgotten. Accessed directly from the Palazz, it is located in the ancient stables of the villa and has been expertly restored to be given a new lease of life. Nature plays a predominant role in the design, starting from the entrance where guests will be greeted by precious tapestries which are replicas of the frescoes from the famous architect Portaluppi’s house in Milan, depicting a lush and refined herbarium of exotic plants and more.
Entering the hall of columns, one of the most impressive areas of the spa, guests will encounter a space dedicated to relaxation and wellness. Amid granite columns and ribbed vaults, the relaxation room includes glistening chandeliers by internationally renowned light artist, Yahya. The spa’s treatment area consists of two elegant cabins where visitors are surrounded by warm wood panelling and soft lighting, filtering through panels made of Viennese straw, elegantly intertwining with Yahya’s intricate chandeliers.
Descending the stairs, one then encounters a pair of vaulted grottos, carved into Moltrasio stone like the rest of the villa’s tunnels. Here, the wet area is cleverly integrated into the underground atmosphere, featuring a dark fir sauna, a grey marble Mediterranean steam bath, and an onyx shower. The extraordinary 50-metre journey then begins, transporting guests to another time and place, as the shadows from pierced lamps, produced in collaboration with Bronzetto – a Florentine artisan workshop that has previously created many unique pieces for Passalacqua – lead the way to a restorative spa experience.
RESTORED CENTURIES-OLD TUNNELS
The true sanctum of the spa is discovered in the mysterious and fascinating world of the villa’s underground tunnels, built by Count Lucini Passalacqua when he built the remarkable property and its gardens in the late 1700s. What was once an 18th century delivery road, is now an enchanting path that runs along the entire length of the Scala Santa of Moltrasio. Starting from the basement of the Palazz and reaching the shore of the lake, the tunnels connect to each of the hotel’s terraced gardens.
Immersed in this dreamlike world, the journey continues as one gazes out towards the dazzling light, penetrating from the end of the tunnel and overlooking the first terrace of the Italian garden. Following the majestic staircase leading to the tunnel, guests will encounter the spacious atrium. To fully appreciate its magnificence, visitors can peer from a scenic balcony, suspended and enclosed like a crystal box, and transformed into an intimate lounge with a tearoom – a place to meditate and breathe.
BRAND-NEW INDOOR POOL
This final destination is the brand-new 18-metre indoor pool, tucked inside an ancient greenhouse and equipped with a relaxing whirlpool area. The pool is lined with a precious mosaic of Palladian marble, where each individual stone has been cut and laid by expert hands, creating a constellation of shades ranging from green to grey to blue. The view overlooks the Italian garden – a masterpiece by internationally renowned botanist, Emilio Trabella – and beyond, towards the lake, the mountains and the infinite sky.
SEED TO SKIN TUSCANY
In harmony with this deep connection to the environment and the lake, Passalacqua has partnered with another symbol of Italian excellence, Seed to Skin Tuscany. Born in the heart of Tuscany as a passion project by creative director and naturalist, Jeanette Thottrup after her struggles to conceive, along with pharmacist and cosmetologist, Anna Buonocore, the brand draws inspiration from the region’s rich natural bounty, blending traditional elements with modern innovation to revitalize the skin from within. In the new spa menu, all treatments and rituals have been studied by Seed to Skin to create a unique wellness experience in true ‘Passalacqua style’. Guests can also experience a massage in the new elegant outdoor pavilion, located in the orchard and designed by the Guido Toschi, to be in perfect harmony with this corner of paradise.
HOW: Rates at Passalacqua start from €1,500 + VAT (currently approx. AUD$2,447) per night in a B&B room, excluding taxes.
