Crumbling Old Villa in Bellagio
 

When I was in Bellagio 3 years ago there was a huge crumbling old villa just beyond the ferry pier and along the lake front. I've often wondered what has happened to it; has someone purchased it to bring it back to life? has it been demolished? or has it continued to crumble? Does anyone know?

When we were there last year, we were told that someone was renovating it and it would be a high end hotel.

I, too, have wondered about this place. It certainly has the potential to rival the Villa Serbelloni. If they are going to make it into a hotel, they're proceeding very slowly. I've seen work equipment outside it but it never seems to progress. It would be a knockout if they could restore it.

I just got back from Bellagio, and sorry to report that the crumbling villa is still there, fenced in and plastered with no trespassing signs...if any renonvation is going on, it's invisible!

Anyone interested in a project? Let's all get together and buy it! I can't tell you how many daydreams I have had about this. :)

grasshopper - if you are referring to the huge villa to the right of the ferry pier, I was just there 2 weeks ago and I did see it was still completely fenced. The fencing was open and there were several workers there doing work. I remember it because we turned our auto around inside the fence and commented about the size of the place and how great it would be to see such a "once grand" place to come to life again. <BR> <BR>Who knows....maybe it will be brought back to life!

I always thought that huge building was a hotel. When I was there in 1996 I could swear it had a sign on it Alberghi something or other. Looked up the word later and it had something to do with a Union? I remember concluding that it was something like a Union-owned vacation property. Who knows, clearly Italian is not my first (or second) language! Anyhow, I would love to be in on the investment scheme to fix it up! I love old buildings, and that one could (and should) be beautiful.

I have it on excellent authority that the building is indeed being refurbished into luxury apartments (condos?). I gather that the local permission has been obtained but there is some delay until they get clearance from the department of finance since one of the developers is Berlesconi. While they do not have the same sort of blind trust arrangement for leaders as in the US, there are still some additional watchdogs (toothless, so I hear). It is well assumed that this project will go forward. I've been told the apartments will start around one million (US $$) tho will be large and luxurious. (I'd hope!) <BR> <BR>That building was in fact a grand hotel/ casino until near end of WWII when Mussolini had his little puppet goverment headquartered in Norther Italy and the hotel became a hospital with some officers quarters. After war was used for a time to house displaced persons (not sure what this entailed) and was then abandonned. <BR> <BR> FYI: to Lake Como fans who might not know (and might not care!), in 1945 Mussolini fled Gargnano for Switzerland as the Allies reached Milan and was captured and executed in Donzo on the upper west shore of Lake Como. (Sorry to ramble on so.)

Coco - So that's not the Excelsior Splendide you're all talking about then, is it? That's going to remain a hotel?

Holly, <BR> The building in question is NOT the Excelsior Splendide but the largest building there on the waterfront (with all the windows blocked in), all the way to the right (when facing from the water)--even to the right of the turn off for the upper street. When you are walking toward the lido or the Villa Melzi, this building is on the left side of the road. As far as I know (and hope) the Excelsior will be in business for a while yet!

When I was in Bellaggio this July, I was informed by two local retail merchants who are long-time residents that the property, the former Hotel Gran Bretagna (check the Touring Club Italiano Guide of 1970), will be refurbished into a superior four star hotel, to rival (somewhat) the Hotel Villa Serbelloni at the other end of town. This would be the only four star in Bellagio, as all the other major ones are three star properties, and the Serbelloni is five stars. As far as concerns the previous comment about Mussolini's execution on Lake Como, this occurred at Giuliano di Mezzegra, a few miles south of Tremezzo. He was captured at Dongo, north of Menaggio.

In my previous posting, Bellagio is of course spelled with only one "g"!!!!

GAC <BR>You are absolutely right about Mussolini's death. It was definitely in <BR>Mazzegra-less than I mile south of Tremmezo

GAC, <BR> Thanks for details re: demise of Mussolini, gruesome but good to have the facts straight. <BR> <BR> As to the 4-star hotel being developed: this was the story I had heard originally, and this would have been the preferred project by most of the merchants, restauranteurs, etc. I had my story from friends who own property in Bellagio and will now check in with them for latest. My info dates back to a discussion in late June.

Thanks for all the info! I guess I will look forward to going to the 4 star hotel sometime in the future. I fear such work in Italy cruises at a snail's pace. Which, actually is one of the reasons Italy is so charming. Good old domani.

Coco: <BR> <BR>Maybe both stories are correct: they are planning to convert the property partly into a hotel, and partly into luxury condos, as was actually done in 1986 with the remodelling of the lovely Grand Hotel Victoria across the lake in Menaggio! Time will tell!

Just for the record, I'm sitting here looking at a panoramic photograph of Bellagio taken from the water and looking straight on. It's actually on a brochure from the Hotel Florence which is clearly marked. I've also spotted Hotel du Lac a couple of doors down. There are about 15 buildings ina row facing the water, then a long open space to the right when facing and then a really huge building. Is that the one we're talking about? Separated from the town slightly up on the hill, behind is another building straight behind the center of the town itself. Is that the Belvedere? If not where is it in relation to the others. Also is Villa Serbolloni right next to the other buildings on the waterfront at the left end or would it not be visible in the picture from straight out in the lake? All your discussions above have made me curious.

I couldn't take it anymore, I had to pull out my honeymoon album and look at the pictures we took of that old hotel in Bellagio. It is to the far right, past an open space (park I think). At the time we were there, 1996, there was a sign on it that said Il Albergheri Scuola. I'm guessing that dates from the time it was a home for displaced persons? Anyhow, it wasn't on any hill, but the hill does rise behind it in the background. In 1996 it was white, rust and yellow colored. Four stories in the large center section, and three on the two side wings, with a ballustrade around the roof indicating you could get up there too.

I've heard back from my Bellagio friends (who actually live in France so are not totally up-to-date, but...) and they tell me the various recent plans have been hotel, then condos, then some combination of both and now are off the table all together. It seems plans come and go with some regularity! The building is back on market for sale. (Yes, I asked them to let me know the price, now that my curiosity has been raised! And, who owns it now?) <BR> <BR> Patrick: Looking straight on from the water, it would be difficult to see the Villa Serbolloni because it is sorta around the corner from the Hotel Florence on the left just across the street directly on the water. <BR> <BR>Monica: You are looking at the right building. Not really "crumbling" but very boarded-up and abandoned looking and the garden surrounding it inside the wall has run wild. <BR> <BR>And please, anybody who comes back with any new news, please share with all of us Bellagio nuts! I won't be back there until June but will see my friends in Paris for Thxgvg and will bring this subject up again.

anyone with updates?