Miralago: the official debut of Villa d'Este's branded residences
Three months after the July 4 opening, the eight apartments on the Cernobbio waterfront present their model: the freedom of a private home with the services of a Grand Hotel. August brought entry into The Leading Hotels of the World.
Translated from the Italian original. Leggi in italiano
In Cernobbio, the old Hotel Miralago has found a second life. The historic building on the lakefront, fully renovated, opened on July 4 as Miralago Luxury Apartments, eight residences that are part of Villa d'Este La Collezione, and at the end of September the company presented the project officially to the trade press. The noteworthy fact for the lake's market is not only the opening itself: it is the model. The formula, which the company calls branded living, combines the independence of a private apartment with the services of a grand luxury hotel.
Eight residences, two per floor
The building has four floors and houses eight apartments, two per level, in a lakefront position in the heart of the village, a few steps from Villa d'Este. Four are one-bedroom units of about 90 square meters, four are two-bedroom units of about 100 square meters, which can be combined into a three-bedroom residence. Interiors are by Studio Droulers. Service includes a dedicated team, daily housekeeping and a 24-hour Lifestyle Concierge for itineraries, reservations and private experiences.
On the ground floor, Caffè Miralago, with its lake-view terrace, has quickly become a meeting point on the Riva, frequented by locals and international guests alike. The food offering focuses on leavened pastries, viennoiserie and a cocktail list with six signature drinks, four low-alcohol and two alcohol-free.
The company's statements and a reading of the facts
According to Villa d'Este S.p.A., the first weeks of activity have already attracted an international clientele seeking privacy and personalized service. Chairman Giuseppe Fontana spoke of heritage restored to new life without losing its identity, while CEO Davide Bertilaccio describes Miralago as the company's idea of hospitality projected into the future. These are corporate statements and should be read as such: the objective fact is that the group is expanding beyond the traditional hotel, betting on longer stays, greater guest autonomy and a season that never stops. Miralago is open year-round.
The international positioning has already recorded a concrete step: last August the property joined The Leading Hotels of the World, the collection of more than 400 independent hotels. With this entry, trade press reports, all Villa d'Este La Collezione destinations are now part of the network: Villa d'Este in Cernobbio, Villa La Massa in Florence, Palazzo Venezia in Como and Miralago.
Residence guests have privileged access to Villa d'Este's facilities: the Sporting Club, the floating pool on the lake, the Beauty Center and the monumental gardens. Transfers between the Collection's properties use Il Rusco, the boat that in 1958 Guido Abbate, founder of the historic Larian shipyard, donated to the Como Prefecture for distinguished guests visiting the lake, later restored and returned to its original routes.
The signal from Cernobbio is clear: lake luxury is moving toward living. Whether the bet succeeds will be decided by occupancy rates over the next twelve months, not by press releases. For now, the waterfront has a new evening light, and one more café from which to sit and watch the lake.
