Il Sereno, one of the most celebrated hotel launches of the 21st century so far and a game changing hotel for a previously neo-classically dominated region, will reopen on 24th March for the 2022 season.
After winning #1 ‘Italian Hotel and Resorts’ in the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards, as they closed their 2021 season, the hotel designed by Patricia Urquiola, part of the Sereno Hotels Group owned by Luis Contreras, will welcome guests to its exclusive spaces once more.
Europe’s First Shoppable Penthouse Suite
Inspired by Post-war Italian glamour, ‘La Dolce Vita’, Modernist Italian designers and Como silks, the new penthouse suite at Il Sereno, designed by Patricia Urquiola is amongst the top penthouse suites in the world. For the first time in Europe, the Penthouse suite’s furnishings are available to buy. Rich in local materials, including Canaletto walnut wooden ceilings, Verde Alpi stone walls and Ceppo di Gre and venetian terrazzo floors, the penthouse has fabrics inspired by 1950’s scarf fashion and the landscape motifs of Lake Como. Framed by the omnipresent iconic lake and mountains, the suite is a tribute to emblematic Italian design, including new bespoke Patricia Urquiola furniture. Pieces include the stylish Lariana bathtub, the Ludo armchair designed for Il Sereno, now in the AGAPE and Cappellini catalogues, together with classic pieces such as the Infinito bookcase by Franco Albini and the Leggera chair by Gio Ponti. The items selected by Patricia Urquiola have been designed by the likes of Gio Ponti, Vico Magistretti, Franco Albini, Charlotte Perirand and Carlo Scarpa. Leading French botanist Patrick Blanc complements the interior design with a sculptural vertical garden to the building’s façade below the suite.
Ristorante Il Sereno Al Lago
Il Sereno’s lakeside restaurant will welcome back Executive Chef Raffaele Lenzi for the fifth year, returning from Il Sereno’s sister property in St Barths, after a successful winter season. Ristorante Il Sereno Al Lago brings gastronomic excellence to the area with Chef Lenzi’s award winning menus, Contrasti, Classici and the famous Vegetali, Tubei and Radici, which for many years has been the foundation for the beloved restaurant’s reputation.
Inglesina Boat Experience
The Inglesina is a beautiful rowing boat, originally built on Lake Como in the 1930’s for English tourists by the great-great grandfather of the Daniele Riva, who made Il Sereno’s other boats by hand. Inspired by the characteristics of the London Thames vessels, this classic and elegant boat returns to its native land after almost a century on Lake Varese in St. Moritz and other alpine lakes. Guests of Il Sereno will be able to enjoy a romantic trip on Inglesina, lulled by the waters of the most famous lake in Italy, whilst enjoying a hand-made picnic by Chef Lenzi, presented in an elegant handmade picnic hamper by Milanese boutique, Larusmiani.
Vaporina del Lago Riva Boat Shuttle
For guests looking to explore gastronomy, Lake Como offers some of the best dining experiences in the world. And what better way to arrive at dinner than by water on Il Sereno’s stylish Vaporina del Lago Riva boat. A water limousine, which features interiors by Patricia Urquiola, the boat, which is considered to be a functional work of art, is designed with a comfortable outdoor area in the front and back to drink in the expansive scenery. The hotel is the only property on the lake to extend a night boat shuttle service to their guests between the hours of 6pm and 11pm.
Rejuvenation By The Lake at Il Sereno SPA
Il Sereno launches ‘Rejuvenation By The Lake’ at The SPA, a soothing, exfoliating treatment, made with products from the Como region, including the olive oil that is specially bottled for Il Sereno and lavender from their gardens. This is an ultra moisturizing and calming treatment for body and soul, with the backdrop of the centuries old Darsena (boathouse). The SPA, designed by Patricia Urquiola, is a tranquil space reflecting the hotel’s design aesthetic. It includes an outdoor relaxation area with a show stopping, 60 foot freshwater infinity pool, suspended over the lake. There is a sauna and a steam room, both designed by Urquiola and finished with Italian tiles. The SPA offers a wide range of treatments and Valmont products, renowned cellular cosmetics inspired by nature, leaving the guest with visible and effective results.
Botanical Cocktail and Mocktail Menu
Il Sereno Lobby Bar is excited to introduce a new cocktail and mocktail menu concept, inspired by the hotel’s vertical botanical garden by leading botanist Patrick Blanc. Using a multitude of plant and floral compositions, including herbs from the Chef’s garden, the bar takes a no-waste approach. The menu includes spectacular mocktails, with the blending based on nature, sustainability and seasonality. There will also be mocktails created to be paired with the Chef’s tasting menus. For instance, Serenity (sorrel, beer and chamomile reduction, lime and passion fruit) to complement Fruit and Vegetable Minestrone dessert.
Villa Pliniana by Sereno Hotels
For guests seeking the ultimate in seclusion and privacy, Il Sereno’s sister property Villa Pliniana, a stunning 16th century Italian Palazzo set only moments from the hotel, is located on an 18 acre waterfront private estate. The property features 19 luxurious bedrooms, a private boat dock, helicopter landing pad, large spa, vast gardens and premium Sereno Hotels services. Villa Pliniana is the oldest property on the legendary lake with soft interiors by Patricia Urquiola and is steeped in a rich history, with visitors including monarchs, Napoleon, Byron, Foscolo and Gioacchino Rossini, who composed Tancredi in the villa itself.
Hotelier Luis Contreras said of the reopening: "We are very happy to be able to open in the spring, after the difficulties of last year. We are starting to go back to normal and Il Sereno is pleased to be able to welcome returning and new guests from all over the world, including the United Kingdom, USA and Australia, who were unable to reach us in 2021. To date, reservations are growing, even compared to the pre-Covid years, so much so that Villa Pliniana is already sold out from May to September 2022. And we hope that a unique experience such as hosting the Cartier High Jewellery event last year can be repeated”.
Rates at Il Sereno start at €750 per night. For more information or to book a stay at Il Sereno Lago di Como, please visit www.ilsereno.com, email info@serenohotels.com or call +39 031 547 7800.
