Mandarin Oriental, Lake Como

Mandarin Oriental, Lake Como is a 5 star luxury resort located in Blevio in the province of Como, Italy. The estate is also known formerly as CastaDiva before its refurbishment in the late 2010s and subsequent transferral of ownership to its current owner, Hong Kong-based multinational chain Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. [1][2] The heart of the entire resort consists of the Villa Roccabruna, which was notably where composer Vincenzo Bellini wrote his two most famous works: La Sonnambula and Norma.[3]

Mandarin Oriental, Lake Como
Villa Roccabruna in the resort
Mandarin Oriental, Lake Como is located in Italy
Mandarin Oriental, Lake Como
Mandarin Oriental, Lake Como
Location in Italy
Former names
  • Casino Ribiere
  • Villa Roda
  • CastaDiva
Hotel chainMandarin Oriental Hotel Group
General information
TypeResort hotel
Architectural styleNeoclassical
AddressVia Caronti, 69
22020, Lombardy
Town or cityBlevio
CountryItaly
Coordinates45°50′57.79″N 9°06′34.37″E
Renovating team
Architect(s)
  • Carlo Formenti
  • Philip Ferranti
Website
mandarinoriental.com

History

Roccabruna Villa was built in the eighteenth century on the shores of Lake Como in the village of Blevio and was later restored by the opera singer Giuditta Pasta. The renovations were carried out between 1827 and 1829 by architect Philip Ferranti.[4]

In the 19th century, the villa was known as "Casino Ribiere" from the name of the French owner, Ms. Ribier, a famous tailor and designer among Milanese aristocrats.[1] The house was a meeting place for artists and musicians in contemporary Italy. Chronicles report that composer Gaetano Donizetti composed the tragic oper Anna Bolena during his residence in 1829. [5] In 1827, the property was purchased by Italian opera singer Giuditta Pasta and renovated by her maternal uncle, architect Filippo Ferranti. Under Pasta's ownership, the property was nicknamed "Villa Roda" and expanded into a neo-classical manor with large garden areas and guesthouse outbuildings.

Present day

The property was purchased by the Wild Family and the current structure of Villa Roccabruna was remodelled at the beginning of the 20th century. Throughout the second half of the 1900s, the estate had fluctuating periods, the end of which was almost ruin. The villa has since then been newly renovated and houses the CastaDiva Resort & Spa, which has 75 rooms, 2 restaurants, 4 conference rooms and a spa of 1,330 square metres (14,300 sq ft), under supervision of entrepreneur Gabriele Zerbi.[6] The resort is named after the most famous aria from Norma, Casta Diva.

In 2014 Top Gear Series 21 Episode 02 was also filmed at the hotel. The CastaDiva Resort & Spa has been acquired by the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in 2018, with the property re-opened under new management in Spring 2019.[7]

Features [2]

The resort offers 21 guest rooms, 52 suites and two private villas in total, which are housed in nine separate building structures within the estate. Other than guest room facilities, the hotel is also outfitted with recreational amenities and dining outlets, including but not limited to:

  • Michelin-starred restaurant L˜ARIA, specialised in Italian-Japanese fusion cuisine.
  • All-day dining outlet, CO.MO Bar & Bistrot.
  • Pool bar, floating pool and pool deck outfitted with Jacuzzis
  • Food truck with built-in pizza ovens that specialise in artisanal pizzas.
  • Two private spa suites, two treatment rooms and a beauty studio.
  • A Technogym fitness centre.
  • A heat-and-water experience area.
  • A classical Amphitheatre and a glass-enclosed Greenhouse for outdoor events.
  • A private vila, Villa del Lago.

References

  1. "Villa Roccabruna in Blevio". Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  2. "Mandarin Oriental, Lago Di Como Factsheet". Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  3. "Europe Luxury Hotels & Resorts: CastaDiva Resort - Lake Como, Italy - 5 Star Luxury Hotel". 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  4. "Blevio, Villa Pasta e Villa Roccabruna" (in Italian). 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  5. official Site (2011). "Storia" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2011-09-09. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  6. "CastaDiva". Archived from the original on 2011-11-24. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
  7. "CastaDiva di blevio diventa resort Mandarin Oriental Lake Como". www.informacibo.it. Retrieved 20 March 2020.

45.8494°N 9.1090°E / 45.8494; 9.1090


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