travluxe Passalacqua is Lake Como at its quietest and most intimate. Opened in 2022 after a meticulous restoration, this 18th-century villa in Moltrasio embodies discreet luxury — aristocratic architecture, lakefront terraces, and slow rhythms that make time feel expansive. It’s a stay built around hushed beauty and deeply personal hospitality.
For Those Who Seek…
• Heritage over hype
• Food that honors ingredients, not trends
• Long, easy mornings and unplanned afternoons
• Privacy without isolation
Legacy
Built in the late 1700s for Count Andrea Lucini Passalacqua, the Italian villa has welcomed figures including Napoleon Bonaparte and composer Vincenzo Bellini. The current owners, the De Santis family (also behind Grand Hotel Tremezzo), restored the property using regional artisans to preserve frescoes, vaulted stone rooms, antique parquet floors, and centuries-old olive trees. Heritage is everywhere, but never theatrical — just the quiet confidence of history well-kept.
Location & Access
Set in Moltrasio on Lake Como’s western shoreline, Passalacqua offers several discreet ways to arrive, each with its own charm.
By boat: The most cinematic entrance. The hotel’s private pier makes glide-in arrivals effortless — just arrange a wooden boat transfer from anywhere on the lake and step off directly into the gardens.
By car: From Milan Malpensa Airport, the drive takes around 45–50 minutes. It’s smooth, scenic, and ideal if you prefer privacy and your own schedule.
By train and ferry: For a slower approach, take the train to Como San Giovanni, then continue by taxi or public ferry to Moltrasio. It’s a relaxed journey that lets the lake reveal itself gradually.
Arriving by water remains the Travluxe choice — quiet, timeless, and undeniably stylish.
Rooms & Suites
Each of the 24 accommodations across the Villa, Casa al Lago, and the Palazz is unique, designed with character rather than uniformity.
• Deep soaking tubs positioned beside painted shutters, perfectly angled toward the lake
• Hand-embroidered linens and bespoke Italian furnishings that turn sleep into a ritual
• Suites crowned with Murano glass chandeliers and original frescoed ceilings
• Garden-level hideaways with private terraces and secluded spots designed for lingering
Nothing is rushed here. Curtains that invite morning light slowly, rooms that encourage lingering, and spaces meant to be lived in rather than merely admired. Every detail has been considered with the kind of patience that only comes from genuine craftsmanship.
Dining & Culinary Moments
Dining at Passalacqua is refined yet profoundly relaxed — the culinary version of slow travel.
- Breakfast on the lawn with flaky brioche, plump fresh fruits and ripe figs still warm from the sun, and espresso strong enough to start a perfect day
- Silky lake fish, handmade pastas, and classic Lombard recipes prepared with effortless elegance
- Vegetables and herbs picked from the garden, drizzled with local olive oil and served in generous family-style spreads
- Aperitivo that materializes right as the light softens over the lake — crisp prosecco, small bites, and that unmistakable golden hour glow
The approach isn’t Michelin in name, but Michelin in spirit. Seasonal sourcing, plate simplicity, and a deep, almost reverent respect for ingredients. There are no fixed menus or rigid schedules here — meals unfold according to what looks best at the market that morning. Expect dishes that change with the weather, the season, and the chef’s instincts rather than a calendar.
Wellness & Experiences
Passalacqua is built around restoration — not of buildings, but of people.
- A lakefront pool shaded by citrus trees and blooming roses, perfect for cooling off between chapters of a good book
- A private spa tucked beneath ancient stone vaults, where treatments feel timeless rather than trendy
- Open-air terraces for yoga, meditation, or simply breathing in the garden air
- Seamless boat transfers for leisurely lake tours, hidden swim spots, and unhurried sunset cruising
This is Lake Como for travellers who don’t need itineraries; just space, nature, and attention to detail. It’s quite luxury at its most authentic — unhurried, unannounced, and entirely personal. Nothing demands your time here… it simply invites you to savor it.
Location & Access
Set in Moltrasio on the western shoreline, Passalacqua is close to Como town with easy access to boat taxis and lakeside villages. Milan Malpensa Airport is about an hour away. Arriving by boat is the discreet choice — quiet, cinematic, and entirely on brand.
48 Hours at Passalacqua
Day 1 — Terraces, Tranquility & Lake Light
Morning: Arrive to gardens still holding the cool of the night. Settle into your suite, open the shutters, and let the first glimpse of Lake Como slow everything down. Breakfast is simple but exquisite — figs, brioche, and espresso taken at an unhurried pace as the lake stirs awake.
Afternoon: Wander the terraced paths without a destination. The pool waits beneath citrus trees and climbing roses — order a Negroni sbagliato and watch boats drift by in quiet rhythm. Read, nap, and repeat until the sun begins its slow slide behind the mountains.
Evening: Dinner beneath the trees feels more like a gathering than a meal — candlelight, shared plates, and conversation that lingers. Afterward, settle into the garden and listen to the water just beyond the dark, the villa lit softly in warm gold.
Day 2 — Wooden Boats & Golden Hours
Morning: Begin in the orchard: flaky pastries, ripe fruit, and espresso strong enough to mark the moment. Then step aboard a private wooden boat to Bellagio, gliding across glassy water while villas and cypress trees appear like scenes from a dream. Swim in a hidden cove where the world feels wonderfully far away.
Afternoon: Return for a treatment in the stone-vaulted spa — herbal scents, low light, and the feeling of time dissolving. Lounge by the pool as afternoon light turns honey-colored and shadows stretch across the garden walls.
Evening: Dinner is family-style and deeply Italian — seasonal dishes, local olive oil, and wine that seems made for this exact view. Walk the terraces one last time under soft garden lights, the lake reflecting stars in perfect stillness.
Keepsakes
Passalacqua doesn’t perform luxury, it preserves it. Lake Como has many icons, but few offer such understated soul. This is the kind of stay that lingers — in photographs, in flavors, in conversations long after you’ve returned home. It’s heritage living at its quietest and most indulgent, the sort of experience that becomes a lifelong cherished memory.
