P A S S A L A C Q U A
We sat down with Valentina De Santis, the owner and CEO of the iconic Passalacqua hotel on Lake Como. She has transformed the 18th-Century villa into the most luxurious boutique hotel on Lake Como. This elevated experience is reminiscent of the old “villeggiatura” style of holiday. Our readers have overwhelmingly chosen the Passalacqua as our 2025 Hotel of the year.
Photographed & Interviewed by John Russo
JR: Passalacqua is steeped in history. Can you share a bit about the property’s origins and its significance to your family?
VD: If only our well-trodden stones and massive bronze doors could talk! They would certainly have a tale to tell, starting with Count Andrea Lucini-Passalacqua, who enlisted the most famous architects and artisans of the late 18th-century Italy to build his family summer residence in Moltrasio—and made it the envy of all who saw it.
My parents and I fell head over heels the moment we first came through the gates at Passalacqua. I had a deep sense that this property belonged in our family, that restoring its unique sense of place was almost a sacred calling. And, of course, we were extremely proud to have this cultural landmark up to guests from near and far, just like the Passalacqua family did all those centuries ago.
JR: What are some of the most fascinating stories or legends associated with the villa?
VD: Count Andrea Lucini-Passalacqua’s son, Alessandro, was a passionate patron of the arts and a thrower of great parties (much like my own parents!). Vincenzo Bellini was a frequent visitor to Passalacqua during that time. Legend has it that Bellini could hear his muse, the soprano Giudetta Pasta, singing from her villa across the lake. What I would have given to listen at the door of our Sala della Musica in 1831, when the maestro was composing the hauntingly beautiful scores for Norma and La Sonnambula.
And though there is no written record of it, when you wander through the salons and the gardens, you can’t help but imagine whispered endearments between secret lovers echoing. This is all part of the spirit of romance and history that fills this place.
JR: How has the legacy of Lake Como and its cultural richness influenced the way Passalacqua has been restored and presented?
Lake Como is unique in that it has been a beloved destination for travelers for centuries. It somehow manages to appeal to each new generation from one “golden age” to the next, all the way from 18th-century English romantics on the Grand Tour to Hollywood stars. It is important for us to build on this rich heritage for our 21st century guests, but in a way that “tends the flame rather than worshipping the ashes”, as the saying goes. My family will always aspire to finding new ways to tend that flame for generations to come.
JR: Were there any particular historical details or architectural elements you felt strongly about preserving during the renovation?
VD: We relied on the finest Italian craftsmen and women to restore the villa’s most important features, all the way from the ceiling frescoes to the terrazzo floors. I think our guests can sense the many hands and hearts that were involved in returning this villa to its former glory, working inch by inch, room by room, garden terrace by garden terrace—a true labor of love!
But perhaps my favorite restoration project was the indoor pool in our underground tunnels. The second we saw these stone-clad halls in the soft light of a flashlight, we just knew we had to turn them into something special. The pool enjoys sweeping lake views under its glass roof, with a relaxation area straight out of One Thousand and One Nights. It was thrilling to give this centuries-old feat of engineering a new purpose and turn a long-neglected space into something of beauty for future generations to enjoy.
JR: What values guide your family’s approach to hospitality at Passalacqua?
Hospitality has always been a family affair for us. It is a very intimate, very literal thing for our family. We understand hospitality as opening our home and also our hearts to our guests, inviting those who stay with us to experience our world, our values and our culture firsthand. This is the truest expression of the Italian word accoglienza—which in its Latin roots means gathering together and forming a bond. This will always be our highest ambition, creating a sense of place that makes everyone—our guests, our team and our friends—feel part of the family.
JR: What does “Italian hospitality” mean to you personally, and how is that reflected in the hotel’s ethos?
VD: Imagine long lunches of delicious homemade food, shared around a well-laid table filled with laughter and love. This is the essence of Italian hospitality for me, where the welcome is warm and the wine flows freely. It means indulging in dolce far niente surrounded by sumptuous Italian textiles and Italian-crafted furnishings. It means immersing yourself in our rich, age-old culture and taking your rightful place in our shared legacy.
JR: Can you describe a moment when you felt especially proud of how Passalacqua embodies your family’s philosophy?
VD: When we returned from The World’s 50 Best Awards in London a few weeks ago, we gathered with the entire team and our guests in the garden to celebrate taking home one of these prestigious awards for the third year running. It was thrilling to experience firsthand the sense of family we work so hard to achieve and to see the shared passion of everyone involved. Roberto and Martina baked this amazing cake in the shape of the villa and the team handed out roses in our signature yellow. My cheeks are still sore from smiling so much!—this is exactly what I dreamed of when we embarked on the Passalacqua project: a place of wonder created from the heart.
JR: How do you hope guests feel when they leave Passalacqua — and what do you hope they take with them?
VD: My family has long embraced the motto “Arrive as a guest and leave as a friend”, and over the years, it has naturally grown into “leave as a member of the family”. This isn’t just a slogan for us—it’s the heart of everything we do. So, along with treasured memories, we hope every guest leaves with something even more lasting: a sense that they belong here and can always return—that this is a new place to call home.
JR: If you had to describe Passalacqua in a few words, what would they be?
VD: A true labor of love
JR: What’s one detail or corner of the hotel that feels most personal to you?
VD: Everything about this place feels so deeply personal, that choosing a single favorite corner would be like choosing a favorite child. Every room, every object, every view across the estate carries a memory—an echo of laughter, a shared discovery, a quiet moment of wonder.
The process behind the making of Passalacqua was a true family affair: always wandering together through antique fairs, attending auctions and meeting traditional artisans whose stories still live in their handiwork. This villa will forever be a tribute to the bond that shapes our family and our family business. I hope our guests feel the love woven into each detail, the passion behind every choice. And if even a trace of that tenderness touches them, then I could not personally wish for more.
To learn more about Passalacqua. https://preferredhotels.com/hotels/italy/passalacqua