The inaugural list of World’s 50 Best Hotels is now out, and the 2023 rankings showcase incredible properties from across the globe. The announcement ceremony for the World’s 50 Best Hotels list was held at London’s iconic Guildhall building, and an Italian family-owned boutique hotel, Passalacqua in Moltrasio near Lake Como has come out on top of the global rankings. The World’s 50 Best Hotels list was decided by the World’s 50 Best Hotel Academy and honoured 50 hotels from 35 destinations around the world.
Apart from Passalacqua, which ranked 1st, many properties from around the world made it to the list. This includes 21 Europe-based hotels, forever-favourite destinations like Four Seasons Firenze, Florence, among them. 18 hotels from across Asia also made it the list, including Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra, Rosewood Hong Kong and Aman Tokyo. Here is everything you need to know about Passalacqua, Moltrasio, the family-owned boutique hotel in Italy that ranked 1st on the World’s 50 Best Hotels list.
Passalacqua: A Family-Run Boutique Hotel Near Lake Como
Opened in June 2022, Passalacqua is run by the De Santis family, a local family of hoteliers who also own the Grand Hotel Tremezzo. With just 24 rooms, Passalacqua may not seem like the most spread-out of luxury hotel properties, but the proximity to the picturesque Lake Como certainly helps. The hotel is set in an 18th century Italian villa owned by composer Vincenzo Bellini. So, despite having only 24 rooms, Passalacqua is packed with incredible heritage, terraced gardens and ornate Baroque craftsmanship that has been passed down the ages.
The rooms at this lakefront property are spread across three buildings, the main villa, the Palazz and the Casa al Lago just next to the lake. From 19th century portraits and frescoes to antique furniture, chandeliers and more, the interiors of Passalacque are as picturesque as the exteriors. With olive groves, roses and magnolias lining the property, the place also boasts of a pool terrace. The food at Passalacqua is simple and the meals relaxed and consisting of local, seasonal ingredients that can be enjoyed along with a chat with the chefs.
All of these features make Passalacqua a must-visit spot near Lake Como in Italy, and the reason why the property topped the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2023 list. “It’s a big recognition,” Valentina De Santis, owner of Passalacqua, revealed in an interview after winning the recognition. “Because we are a family-owned independent hotel. And we’re quite small. We just opened one year ago. It was really unexpected. And it was beyond our wildest dreams to get to the top part of the top 25. So, we couldn’t be prouder.”