Passalacqua

Located in Moltrasio, Passalacqua is on a lake. Como-Brunate Funicular and Villa del Balbianello are notable landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Lugano. Mokart Como and Enoteca Principessa are also worth visiting. Be sure not to miss outdoor adventures like mountain biking and hiking/biking trails, or hop on a bike rental nearby and take a self-guided tour around the area. The Villa Passalacqua is a national monument for Italy. It was constructed in the 1700’s by Count Passalacqua who had been granted the property by the Odescalchi Family, a Northern Papal family. It’s most famous long term visitor was Vincenzo Bellini who lived here from 1829-1833 and wrote his most famous operas here (Norma and Sonnambula).The Swiss architect, Felice Soave, designed the house to have a simple symmetrical façade with a richly elaborate interior. The ceilings on the public rooms as well as the bedrooms are ornately decorated and painted. The doors are a beautiful mixture of Cotto Lombardo, Seminato, and dark antique wood. The Villa is filled with beautiful paintings, sculptures, rugs, tapestries and Venetian chandeliers. The Kitchen is large and airy with subzero refrigerators and wine coolers, Viking and Gaggeneau ovens, grills and ranges, 4 disposals, 2 dish washers, a vegetable and fish steamer and a fryer. The counter tops are made of Verona marble and the cabinetry is richly decorated, hand-carved wood. The most prominent feature of the kitchen is two 8 foot high stone replaces that are original to the Villa and bear the Passalacqua family emblem.The Dining Room is an oval shaped room with 16 marble columns. The most important fresco in the Villa sits above the dining room table. It is a fresco by Andrea Appiani who was Europe’s foremost neoclassical artist at the turn of the 19th century. The Tuscan Dining Room is more casual and filled with period Tuscan furniture. Here there is a separate sitting area with marble replace and television for relaxing and enjoying the views.On the ground floor is a beautiful den, with a computer and internet connection. There is also a Billiard Room with a hand-carved English Snooker table. For nights when our guests want to stay in, there is a cinema with a large screen and cinema quality sound system. The cinema houses one of the Villa’s most incredible replaces and an exquisite mahogany bar. On the first floor is a beautiful workout room. It has gorgeous views of the lake and the mountains in the back of the Villa. There is a stereo system, television, weights, Glidex, Stair stepper, Punching Bag and numerous exercise DVDs. The doors are antique, decorative wood and the ceiling is richly carved. There are eight suites (in the Villa that average over 1,300 square feet. They are all unique and beautiful. They all have high and carved ceilings, antique doors and spectacular bathrooms. The rooms are filled with antique furniture, Persian rugs, Venetian chandeliers and beautiful art. Some of the bathrooms have Philippe Starck designed wash basins, bathtubs and W/Cs while others have antique French and English large trough bathtubs and ornate wash basins. There is a beautifully restored antique Bluethner piano that once sat in the Leipzig Concert Hall. It rests in the Music Room which is a spectacular room with 30 ft. high ceilings, Albertolli frescoes and stunning views of the lake. The Villa Passalacqua is child friendly. In the back garden next to the kitchen is a wonderful outdoor play area with beautiful wooden slide, swing set and rope climb. There is a large children’s play room on the first floor next to the music room and a small children’s play room next to the kitchen.The weekly price is up to 10 guests onlyFor each additional guest the cost is EUR 2520 per adult and EUR 1181 per child age 4-17. A child younger than 4 years is free.CLEANING AND OTHER SERVICES. Owner shall provide daily butler, maid and cleaning services. Owner shall also provide a chef for breakfast on a daily basis. All other services (for example, long distance phone, chauffeur, meals, boat tours, etc.) can be arranged at an additional charge to the Vacationer.SECURITY DEPOSIT. A security deposit of EUR 3,000 (“Security Deposit”) is due at the time of the remaining payment. Owner shall reimburse Vacationer the Security Deposit less damages and/or expenditures the Owner incurs on the Vacationer’s behalf (boat rental, chefs, taxis, etc.) no later than one week after the final day of the Term.