There’s romance, and then there is Villa Sola Cabiati. It’s difficult to describe this palace sat on the shores of Lake Como. Outside its Arab-esque gates, an air of mystery and intrigue encircles its neoclassical powder-yellow exterior. What is certain amongst its manicured gardens and polished flowerbeds is that this bastion was made in the shadow of pure architectural poetry. The 18th-century open all-year-round mansion, still owned by the Sola family to this day, has welcomed everyone from Napoleon to Italian high society and, most recently, Taylor Swift over the years. It’s pure romance and guaranteed to last longer than any of the popstar’s romances. A burn, yes, but Tay Tay, you are an icon, just like this palazzo to the stars.
A historic and artistic landmark, the regal digs were once home to the well-heeled and the exquisitely groomed Serbelloni dukes, who naturally, left their bling mark on the place: dazzling manicured gardens, lake views, stuccoed ceilings by Muzio Canzio adorned with endless storied frescoes (Virgil’s Aeneid is particularly special) and ornated stuccowork crafted by numerous Italian masters. Elsewhere, high ceilings snake their way into a series of ornate patterns that loop towards the crests of Murano chandeliers that deliver an extra dose of wow factor to the surrounding Venetian silverware and Marie-Antoinette style chairs.
Other stupendously gorgeous period touches include a medley of Ottoman weaponry set at the foot of the grand marble staircase and Meissen porcelain, of which the other half of the collection is housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris. Yes, it’s unapologetically Italianate maximalism, and it’s oh-so fabulous. But that’s not all. Perhaps the biggest wow comes from The Sala degli Stucchi. The details here truly boggle the mind. Cherub frescoes and biblical fables crown a patchwork of patterns that make up the baroque ceiling, and in between all the gloriously lavish stonework, floral motifs, and mythical animals and emblems pour out into every nook in sight.
A secret door also leads into the state apartment, which, yonks back, slept Napoleon and his wife, Joséphine de Beauharnais. As you enter, it’s like experiencing one of those mic-drop moments. Tapestries drape the walls alongside Empire patterns, period and priceless furniture adorned with mementos and eye-raising personal collections that once belonged to the French emperor. The bed is also a grand keepsake. Carved from oak, it still features all the original sheets and the smells if you sniff hard enough.
Its mere presence says something of the villa’s all-round grandness: invaluable stately historicism preserved on the grandest of scales.
The rooms you can sleep in are just as gloriously stupendous. Enlightenment poet (and coincidental tutor of the Serbelloni dukes) Giuseppe Parini, once dubbed Villa Sola Cabiati ‘La Quiete’ (the Calm) – and it’s in the bedrooms this wishy-washy sonnet truly comes alive. Split over the piano nobile, everything is as expected, elaborately decorated. My pad, the Baroque-style Suite Gianvico, featured original 18th-century copper-coloured wallpaper, ornate gilt-framed mirrors, royal velvet purple chairs, exquisite period wooden drawers, worn, but uber chic chairs, parquet floors, and a doll’s house bathroom with views of the lake and a freestanding tub, plus pink marble shower that delivered the pressure when needed. The other suites are more modern but pack in just as much regal chic as this storied banger.
As for the grub, it’s all made fresh in-house. The concept is as bespoke as humanly possible. Dishes are prepped, spun, and rustled up by local private chefs and are served 24/7. Seasonality is key, but expect all sorts of Italian classics from delicious pastas to well-seasoned meats and other big hitters from mozzarella salads to calamari. Sundowners are cocktail-filled affairs by the pool, in the sala, or gardens. And yes, anything can be shaken or stirred to your heart’s content. Breakfast is served banquet style, and the cappuccinos here are the best I’ve had in a long time. What’s there to do? This place was made for relaxing, so do just that. Snooze, read a book, do a lap or two in the pool, or ask to be whisked around the lake to catch a glimpse of the sunset. It’s true magic.
Summed up, Taylor Swift has got some seriously good taste, and it shows. Villa Sola Cabiati is a rare gem in Como’s crown, and one so dazzling, it defies any sort of reductive definition. This Maison is special, unique, and beautifully prosaic. May long it stand.
Top Takeaways:
Location: Lake Como, Italy.
Rating: Five-star
The vibe: Grand Italian living. Here, you will be treated like a member of the Royal Family.
Food + Drink: All the Italian classics, with an emphasis on the north. Whatever you eat here will be a real treat, plus the chefs will happily teach you how to cook every dish, too.
Amenities: restaurant, bar, massage room, pool
Our favourite thing about the hotel: It is so unique it is unheard of. Authenticity is a hideously overused word, but in the case of Villa Sola Cabiati, sums it up perfectly.
What’s nearby? Lake Como and Grand Hotel Tremezzo, the wondrous hotel that manages the villa.
Any personal neighbourhood reccs? Stay put. You are in one of the lake’s most lavish and well-known villas. Why would you want to leave?
Rooms? 6
Pricing: From about 10,000 USD.
Closest International Airport: Milan Malpensa
