On the serene shores of Lake Como, in Menaggio, Italy, lies the Grand Hotel Victoria. Originally built in 1890, during the fabulously opulent Belle Époque (literally, “the Beautiful Era”) period, and first opening its doors to guests a couple of years later, this stunning villa has been meticulously restored and now combines 19th-century Art Nouveau elegance with more contemporary design. In the past few years, it’s added a new wing, which includes 81 rooms and suites, many offering breathtaking views of that famous lake.
The owners, R Collection Hotels, are justifiably proud of its beautifully manicured gardens, its heated pools and restaurants: dining at the hotel is an exquisite experience, with the glass-domed 1827 Restaurant serving up wonderful contemporary Italian cuisine. Beyond the villa, just a few steps away, is the charming village of Menaggio, with its local boutiques, cafés and the picturesque lakeside promenade. Truly, this is the place to come for beauty, relaxation and indulgence.
But while the entire property is spectacular, its new pull is the reason we’re here: the utterly luxurious Erre Spa. Designed in partnership with Starpool, a global leader in wellness facilities, and covering 1,200 square metres, its centrepiece is a 20-metre indoor pool that celebrates the rejuvenating power of H2O. Surrounded by elegant design and soft lighting, it’s clearly a transparent nod to the beauty of Lake Como itself.
Even the spa’s entrance will have you feeling like James Bond (Casino Royale was filmed in these parts) or George and Amal Clooney (who own a house nearby): a “Tunnel of the Betrothed” (featuring artwork based on Alessandro Manzoni’s 1827 novel The Betrothed, which is set in Lake Como) takes guests to the spa directly from their rooms at the hotel’s villa.
Venture further in, and alongside the sauna rooms, crafted from rich, warm woods, two different Turkish baths fill the air with fragrant aromas, while “emotional showers” combine varying temperatures, lights and scents to create an immersive, multisensory experience. For those seeking something a little cooler, the ice room invigorates the body, while thanks to the natural healing properties of Himalayan salt, the soothing salt room helps to restore vital energies and balance the mind, body and spirit.
Lake Como is famed for its paradisiacal gardens, some of the most eye-catching flora in the world. This percolates through to Erre Spa, which uses extracts of flowers from the lake’s plants, thyme and rose into its signature treatments. This being Italy, food plays a role in the spa too. The couples’ area of the Erre Spa features a “Gourmandise” department offering a pure chocolate moisturising treatment, followed by cake and pastries afterwards. If that wasn’t enough lazy lakeside indulgence, then there’s a Private Spa experience, where you and your amici can hire the spa all to yourself along with sparkling wines (the area has been producing divine fizzy red lambruscos since Roman times) and delicatessen fare prepared by the Grand Hotel Victoria’s chef.
And the spa doesn’t stop there: it also offers a pair of carefully crafted relaxation areas, including the Lake silent room – a peaceful sanctuary where you can simply unwind and let your thoughts drift off, while the Fire room, with its dramatic four-metre fireplace and plush chaise longues, is perfect for cosy moments of deep relaxation.
‘To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance,’ that great Belle Époque hero Oscar Wilde once said. To pamper yourself at the Grand Hotel Victoria would be a good way to start.
Lysanne Currie is editor-in-chief of Meet the Leader. She also writes for Robb Report, Diplomat, Guardian, Influence, Tempus and Investor
