Located on the shores of Lake Como, Villa d’Este is surrounded by a beautiful 10-hectare park. Built in 1568 as the summer residence of Cardinal Gallio, it was transformed into a luxury hotel in 1873, becoming the favorite destination of the European aristocracy. Since 1913, the park and the villa have been classified as a National Monument. In recent years, Villa d'Este has extended the season to also include winter, a long-held desire of the owners and management in order to share the uniqueness of this area all year round. An icon of the international hotel industry, Villa d'Este is also a popular destination for the numerous celebrities who have been guests of the hotel over the years: the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Alfred Hitchcock, Helmut Newton, Bruce Springsteen, George Clooney, Al Pacino... just to mention a few.