The Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola is a 5 star superior hotel in Lugano and enjoys a privileged position inside a large sub-tropical park, with a beautiful view towards the lake. The elegant villa, built in 1880, combines the charm of a bygone era with the comfort and care of a modern luxury hotel.
Originally built for the Von Ritter, a noble Russian family, The Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola was bought in 1885, by a young Swiss couple of the Schnyder von Wartensee family. They transformed it into a hotel and the family owned it up until 1982, when it was sold to a local family. A total redecoration was then undertaken by the new owners to return the building to its original beauty and provide the highest standards of comfort. Nothing is left to chance, every detail is taken care of, to make guests feel welcomed into this ‘private home’. Elegant art objects are scattered throughout the various public areas: 17th century Gobelin d’Aubusson tapestries in the Salone Camino, paintings of Italian masters in the Sala Bridge, and Flemish masters in the Sala Colonne.
With its long-standing hotel tradition, Villa Castagnola has throughout the years, become the chosen holiday destination for aristocrats, politicians, business leaders, bankers, artists, writers, all seeking privacy and rest in discreet yet sophisticated surroundings.
The hotel offers 74 rooms, of exceptional charm, individually styled, with stunning park and/or lake views, balcony, terrace or loggia. All rooms, of which 32 are junior suites and suites, have individual air-conditioning, and provide the most modern comforts.
The restaurant La Rucola, born under the motto ‘Fresh & Easy Dining’, offers light and delicious meals in a cosy and informal setting on the summer patio. The menu has been created by Executive Chef Christian Bertogna, in charge of the Restaurant Le Relais.
Restaurant Le Relais - 15 points Gault&Millau - in an elegant setting, Executive Chef Christian Bertogna, offers a light and innovative Mediterranean cuisine, a balance between colours and delicate flavors that are memorable. During the warm season, dinner is served on the outdoor terrace, overlooking the garden and the lake. The Sala Goya is the exact setting for celebrations: from family luncheons to business meetings, from wedding banquets to romantic candle light evenings.
Restaurant Gallery Arté al Lago - 1 Michelin Star, 16 points Gault&Millau - is a theme restaurant inside an art gallery. The interior is embellished with artwork and sculptures of contemporary artists of international standing, that change every six months. A doorstep away from the Villa Castagnola through the park and across the main street, right on the shore of the lake, the Restaurant Gallery Arté al Lago offers a magnificent and unique view over the gulf of Lugano as well as dainty cuisine. Signature dishes of Executive Chef Frank Oerthle are entirely new and original. The menu stands out for sweetwater and seafood specialities. Admission to the art gallery is allowed during open hours or prior booking.
Quickly established as one of the places to see and be seen in, the Cocktail-Bar is renowned as much for its rich, opulent interior as for its menu of new and classic cocktails. Open to both guests and non-residents, the bar boasts live piano music. There is also the Banano Bar, set in the great park, right among palms, banana trees and overlooking a lawn full of flower beds, rose gardens and tall trees. A suggestive spot to relax for an aperitif throughout the season.
Appreciated for its unique styling and brightness, the venue offers top notch facilities for meetings and events, be it a grand banquet or a less formal luncheon, a business meeting or conference, a private party or dinner, or an unforgettable wedding party. Each of the 10 meeting rooms, with seating capacity of up to 120 people, have an elegant décor, original artworks, direct daylight with large windows overlooking the park, and are equipped with high-tech audio/visual equipment. Clients can choose between small private sitting-rooms and conference halls of different sizes and locations, such as Le Pavillon connected to the park through the outdoor veranda, or the Sala delle Palme, a large and impressive room, set to recall an oriental atmosphere with its Indian Rajasthan panoplies and Afghan doors dating from the 19th century. No matter the size, the greatest attention to detail and imagination is given to ensure that every function is perfectly monitored and well-remembered.
Villa Castagnola has a spectacular indoor swimming-pool with panoramic views over the garden, a high-tech fitness room, a sauna, a bio-sauna, a steam-room, a solarium, changing rooms with showers, lockers and bathrooms, table-tennis room, outdoor hard court tennis fields and a private terrace on the lake. The Clarins Beauty Corner provides an extensive range of beauty, grooming and therapeutic treatments for women and men, and Danilo Hairstyling offers hairdressing services.
Despite it being a short walking distance from Lugano’s City Centre, where you can find museums and the most luxurious boutiques, arriving at Villa Castagnola means plunging into an untainted setting with a breathtaking lake view. The hotel is well connected to Lugano’s railway station and airport (only 7km away), and has easy access to the motorway.
One last curiosity… On the edge of the park is a beautifully gracious, tiny chapel with 17th Century frescos. The chapel is still in use and it’s the perfect location for a private wedding or a christening. An unexpected spot out of a fairy tale...
CONTACT INFORMATION
Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola | Viale Castagnola 31, CH- 6906 Lugano | Switzerland
Telephone: +41 91 973 2555 | Fax: +41 91 973 2550
E-mail: info@villacastagnola.com
Image Credits: Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola