Passalacqua | Owner, Valentina De Santis

August 23, 2022

We have a very special guest joining us today, our first repeat guest on the show, in fact! You may remember Valentina de Santis who joined us to discuss her famed hotel Grand Hotel Tremezzo on Lake Como.

Well she’s back! And this time to tell us about the jewel box of a hotel that she just finished building called Passalacqua. This revival of an 18th century villa, might be one of the most stunning properties I’ve ever had the luxury of staying in. And on top of that, the family owned atmosphere, relaxed vibe, and local community truly bring to life the concept of dolce far niente.

Valentina and I chat about everything from the insane amount of Murano glass adorning the hotel, to the Italian craftsmen that designed every tiny bit, to the local gelateria owner who moved to the village for love. You’ll also get a smattering of celebrities, famous opera composers, and of course all of Valentina’s charm.

Listen to hear:

02:27 – About Valentina’s favorite view from her new hotel
03:51 – What “dolce far niente” is all about
05:55 – How the journey to this new hotel started
08:29 – About the vibes and moods of the areas
13:02 – Why the chef from the gelato store brings memories to her
14:32 – About Como Lake and its surroundings
17:07 – What her favorite historical story that happened on the property is
20:01 – How the monumental chandelier found its way to Passalacqua
23:45 – About the fantastic details and design in each of the rooms
30:48 – Why the outdoors of the property is as spectacular as the interior
35:55 – What the signature scent of the property is
38:25 – How a day on a boat trip differs from all the others
40:53 – About Valentina’s favorite choices on the new property
49:02 – What you will learn about the world and humanity after visiting Passalacqua