There are hotels that arrive quietly, and then there are those that feel inevitable. Palazzo Venezia, the newly opened five star boutique hotel in the heart of Como, belongs firmly to the latter. Part of Villa d’Este La Collezione, this refined lakeside property marks a pivotal moment for the city, the first five star boutique hotel located directly in Como’s historic centre, where culture, football, ferry horns, and lake life converge.
Set directly along the lakefront, Palazzo Venezia occupies a privileged position between water and city. From its windows, Lake Como unfolds in layers of light and movement. Just a short walk away lies the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, home of Como 1907, anchoring the hotel not only in beauty, but in the everyday rhythm and modern resurgence of the city itself.
Housed within a restored 19th century palazzo overlooking Piazza Cavour, the hotel balances classical Italian elegance with contemporary amenities. Interiors feel composed rather than showy, soft neutrals, refined materials, and an emphasis on light, proportion, and calm.
As the newest jewel in Villa d’Este La Collezione, Palazzo Venezia extends the group’s philosophy beyond grand resort living into a more intimate, urban expression of Italian hospitality. It is also the first hotel in Como to join The Leading Hotels of the World, a distinction that feels less like ambition and more like alignment.
At the helm is Acting General Manager Barbara Gibellini, whose career within the Villa d’Este universe gives her a rare fluency in both tradition and modern expectations.
“Palazzo Venezia is not about importing luxury into Como,” Gibellini explains. “It’s about reflecting what Como already is, elegant, authentic, and evolving, and offering a place that feels open to the city rather than removed from it.”
That openness is intentional. In her interview, Gibellini emphasised the hotel’s close relationship with the community, particularly its proximity to Como 1907.
“We proudly welcome all Como 1907 supporters,” she shared. “The club has transformed the city in an incredibly positive way, culturally, economically, and emotionally. There is a new energy in Como, and Palazzo Venezia is part of that momentum.”
It’s a statement that positions the hotel not just as a destination, but as a participant in the city’s modern story.
Crowning the property is Altariva Restaurant and Bar, led by Chef Alessandro Rinaldi, whose cooking mirrors the hotel’s philosophy, rooted, refined, and quietly confident.
Originally from southern Italy, Rinaldi brings a deeply personal approach to his cuisine. His work is grounded in tradition, including a family sourdough starter passed down through generations, yet interpreted through a contemporary lens that favors clarity over excess.
“I don’t believe in overcomplicating Italian food,” Rinaldi says. “The goal is purity, letting ingredients speak, but with intention. Every dish should feel effortless, even though nothing about it is accidental.”
The rooftop setting elevates the experience further. As the sun lowers over the lake and the city softens into evening, Altariva becomes a natural gathering point, for hotel guests, locals, and visitors drawn as much by the atmosphere as by the menu.
Palazzo Venezia arrives at a moment when Como is redefining itself, no longer simply a gateway to villas and weekend escapes, but a destination with its own cultural and creative pulse. With direct lake access, immediate proximity to the stadium and Teatro Sociale, and seamless connections to ferries, boutiques, and historic landmarks, the hotel sits at the crossroads of old and new Como.
Guests enjoy the intimacy of a boutique property while gaining access to the wider Villa d’Este world, including its legendary facilities in nearby Cernobbio, a rare pairing of urban sophistication and resort legacy.
In true Condé Nast fashion, Palazzo Venezia isn’t about spectacle. It’s about placement, perspective, and polish. A hotel that understands that modern luxury is less about being seen and more about belonging.
And in Como, right now, this is exactly where you want to be.
You can see more about Palazzo Venezia in the latest Discover Como on Como TV.