Grand Hotel Tremezzo, which opened its doors back in 1910, has always attracted some known artists and writers while inspiring many with its rich history and charming nature. To date, this special property has become a must-stop destination for the international traveling elite (or anyone who can afford a stay). With more than 73 museums, 11 medieval castles and lots of legendary villas spread around Lake Como, I doubt one visit will be enough to discover all the gems around Grand Hotel Tremezzo.

More than Just a Vacation at Grand Hotel Tremezzo

If you are lucky enough to vacation here, get ready to go back in time hundreds of years by simply (not really simple) taking a hike to one of the oldest castles on the shores of Lake Como, the late 11th- century Castello di Vezio, which is just a 15-minutes’ drive from the hotel. Once at the castle, you can learn about and how to recognize the genuine taste of exquisite extra virgin olive oil (I always wanted to have this special power). You’ll relish in all this while visiting an old oil mill and a typical olive grove on the hillside. Alternately, if you are not an olive kind of person, just enjoy a bird’s eye view 9better than a worm’s) from the medieval tower with crowning battlements, which is a unique feature of Castello di Rezzonic, with its trapezoidal shape and three towers.

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Silk Museum

The love and passion for silk, which has ancient origins in Como, can also be discovered at the Educational Silk Museum. It houses collections and displays of machines, objects, documents, samples and instruments that played witness to the glorious past of the textile industry that to this day recognizes Como as the “City of Silk”. You can take a virtual journey through the process of silk-making, from the silk worms to the spinning, dyeing, and printing of this treasured fabric.

Museum of Navigational Instruments

In Bellagio, just opposite the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, there is the Museum of Navigational Instruments, which features historical pieces and antiques. These include 18th-century telescopes made in Venetian factories, compasses and sun dials from various eras. You’ll also find a series of marine chronometers, armillary spheres in brass and a stupendous Planetarium. These rare pieces have been collated for over 50 years, some of which are hundreds of years old. If you would love to absorb more of this information, there’s a knowledge tour of the museum, which is handled personally by the gentleman who assembled the collection.

Theatre of Como

Teatro Sociale di Como was built on land that was originally occupied by the Castello Della Torre Rotonda. Como’s opera theatre was originally designed by Giuseppe Cusi in 1811, but many other eminent Italian architects were involved in its various modifications and restorations over time. Teatro Sociale is a significant venue in the world of opera, as it has hosted master composers and musicians like Niccolò Paganini, Giuditta Pasta, and Franz Liszt. Teatro Sociale has a very active calendar of events that cover a wide spectrum of music, drama, and dance. If you are planning on visiting Como, and you happen to have a love for opera and classical music, then be ready to enjoy a performance in this beautiful historic venue with its plush red velvet seats and intimate settings.

Villa Carlotta

Neighboring Grand Hotel Tremezzo, the Villa Carlotta is the most famous on Lake Como, from its centuries-old botanical gardens to its paintings, sculptures, and tapestries. Villa Carlotta hosts many cultural events and festivals such as the Lake Como Festival. Taking place between July and September, the festival includes several artistic and cultural events, from celebrating the 120th death anniversary of famous German composer and pianist, Johannes Brahms in memory of his residence in the Villa, to the marble room where the young Como-born pianist of international fame, Christian Leotta, will perform the second part of the 32 piano sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven. There is also the Tremezzina Music Festival hosting prominent jazz musicians, and leading rock-blues performers and singer-songwriters. Alongside Grand Hotel Tremezzo, there is also the Villa Balbianello, which played a starring role as a location for James Bond’s ‘Casino Royale’.

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Villa Sola Cabiati

Grand Hotel Tremezzo has recently added the Villa Sola Cabiati, an 18th-century villa, and historic residence of the Dukes of Serbelloni. It features refined Baroque architecture and décor throughout its spacious three-storey layout. Favored by Duke Gabrio Serbelloni as the summer home for his family in the latter 1700s, frescoed rooms, ornate stucco work, vast arabesque gardens and blue shutters greet you today just as they did centuries ago.

An art-nouveau landmark with its enduring sophisticated atmosphere, extraordinary location and proximity to the region’s charming villas, it’s no wonder Grand Hotel Tremezzo has remained at the top of its class for over a century.

xoxo