Over 150 years of elegance and enchantment

Architect Pellegrino Pellegrini, known as “Il Tibaldi”, designs the Villa as a summer residence for Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio, Bishop of Como. He names it “Villa Garovo”, after the stream that flows nearby.

Following the Cardinal’s death, the Villa remains in the Gallio family for nearly two centuries.

The last of the Gallio line sells the property to Count Ruggero Marliani. It later passes into the hands of Marquis Bartolomeo Calderara.

Upon the Marquis’ death, the Villa is inherited by his wife, Vittoria Peluso — known as “La Pelusina” — a former ballerina of La Scala.
She marries Count Domenico Pino, a Napoleonic general, and commissions playful mock fortresses in the park to amuse her husband, fearing he might pine for the thrill of battle.

Caroline of Brunswick, Princess of Wales and future Queen of England, acquires the Villa and renames it “New Villa d’Este” — later simply “Villa d’Este”.

Under her ownership, the estate enters a golden age.

Due to her lavish lifestyle, the Princess falls into debt with her banker, Prince Torlonia, who becomes the new owner.

After a period of neglect, the property passes first to Prince Domenico Orsini, and then to Baron Ciani.

Baron Ciani constructs the Queen’s Pavilion in honour of Caroline of Brunswick, naming it “Hotel de la Reine d’Angleterre”.
He is succeeded by Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia.

A group of wealthy Milanese entrepreneurs acquires Villa d’Este and transforms it into a luxury hotel.

Villa d’Este and its ten-hectare park are designated a National Monument by the Italian Heritage Authority.

The Sporting Club is inaugurated, along with the floating swimming pool — the first of its kind on Lake Como.

The Beauty Centre opens, followed the next year by the mosaic-lined corridor connecting it to the Sporting Club and the Cardinal’s Building.

In the same year, the Group acquires the Florentine property, Villa La Massa.

Villa d’Este opens exceptionally over the festive season to celebrate the turn of the millennium with grand gala dinners, masquerade balls and lavish performances.

Villa d’Este celebrates its 150th season with a series of special events and a rare winter opening, extending through to January 2023.