Andiamo! Citalia Magazine Winter 2023
This issue focuses on laidback living and going slow, swapping the bustling cities for the serene coast and countryside in our Unmissable Destinations for 2023 article. Hop on board with Italy’s Railway Rides and discover the real Italy as you travel across the country. Combine a few destinations together and enjoy a multi-centre trip, ticking off more of that bucket list – it’s so easy to get around by rail! Look forward to a night at the opera as we celebrate One Hundred Years of Opera at the Arena in Verona. This is one event not to be missed in 2023!
This issue focuses on laidback living and going slow, swapping the bustling cities for the serene coast and countryside in our Unmissable Destinations for 2023 article.
Hop on board with Italy’s Railway Rides and discover the real Italy as you travel across the country. Combine a few destinations together and enjoy a multi-centre trip, ticking off more of that bucket list – it’s so easy to get around by rail!
Look forward to a night at the opera as we celebrate One Hundred Years of Opera at the Arena in Verona. This is one event not to be missed in 2023!
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A Journey Through Time<br />
How do you honour the past while bringing a historic hotel into the 21st century?<br />
<strong>Citalia</strong> sits down with Marco Montagnani, General Manager of Grand Hotel<br />
Victoria, located right on the banks of the esteemed and enduring Lake Como.<br />
Describe in three words…<br />
Grand Hotel Victoria?<br />
Welcoming.<br />
(An) Experience.<br />
Emotive.<br />
Lake Como?<br />
Historic<br />
Peaceful.<br />
Heart-stirring.<br />
Our five-storey Grand Hotel Victoria has been<br />
around since the 19th century. It was one of<br />
the many private neoclassical residences that<br />
graced Lake Como’s shore, and has always<br />
welcomed British guests. While we cannot<br />
confirm all the prestigious guests who would<br />
have stayed, legend has it that Queen Victoria<br />
- who would stay at a hotel in Varenna - would<br />
come by boat to enjoy lunch here. That’s<br />
the reason for our hotel name and my most<br />
favourite suite, the Queen Victoria Suite, which<br />
is located on the highest floor of the hotel.<br />
About 50 years ago, a historic Italian family<br />
bought the villa, and still own it today. We<br />
underwent a massive renovation that lasted<br />
almost four years, which made our property the<br />
newest five-star luxury hotel on Lake Como.<br />
Our architect, Franco Pè, focused on integrating<br />
history into the interiors, while uplifting the<br />
property into the 21st century. We also built a<br />
new palazzo to add additional rooms, so that we<br />
now offer 81 rooms and suites.<br />
If you see other luxury hotels around Lake<br />
Como, they are iconic and historic, but more<br />
traditional in style. We sought out a different,<br />
more chic and clean style. It's now very light,<br />
with large windows and neutral tones that<br />
reflect the colours of the lake perfectly.<br />
Grand Hotel Victoria celebrates art concepts,<br />
with a Made in Italy focus - we only use local<br />
materials and handmade products from Italian<br />
craftsmen.<br />
We have the biggest spa on Lake Como,<br />
at around 1,500 square metres. Inside is a<br />
beautiful indoor pool that’s not for swimming<br />
lengths, but a place to simply relax. In each<br />
corner we have little water games for you to<br />
play. There’s a salt water jacuzzi, an ice room<br />
and two wood saunas. While we do have a<br />
wonderful gym, I believe the best exercise<br />
is in nature.<br />
16<br />
<strong>Citalia</strong>.com
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