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Hotel Villa Principe Leopoldo, Lugano, Switzerland (Ticino) *****
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One of the most perfect hotels in Europe.
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Peter and Linda D'Aprix 1998-2002
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Hotel Villa Principe Leopoldo is one of the world's lovely hotels both for its immaculate restoration coupled with superb modernization, ambiance and service, and for its incomparable views of Lake Lugano that change throughout the day and throughout the seasons.
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Entrance salon of Villa Leopoldo.
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Pool with view of the Lac Lugano
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Arial view of the hotel in the foreground
with the rooms and suites below the gardens
as well as the two Residence buildings
at the top of the photo.
Click on the photo to see larger version.
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© 1998-2002 photos Peter D'Aprix
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It has a good start. Lugano is an exquisite town. With its lake front gardens, well preserved meandering streets many of which are colonnaded giving protection from the elements, and its mild, Mediterranean climate, this is a fairyland to begin with. Hotel Villa Principe Leopoldo makes the most of it. The grounds are perched on the top of a hill overlooking the lake, the town and the mountains that rise majestically in all directions. There are still vineyards just up the road.
The hotel has been restored with Italianate colors and features. Rusty red stucco and terra cotta roof tiles; pillars and archways visually demonstrate the ties to Italy rather than the Swiss cantons over the mountain passes to the north. It was only a short time ago that the Ticino was part of Italy. The border is only a few minutes away by freeway and Milan airport is under an hours drive.
There is a multi level private car park under the front driveway and garden. The two levels of suites and mini-suites lie under the classic garden to the rear with its view of the lake. The rooms are all new, large, well appointed, and each has its own private view of the lake through the glass wall that faces south. The bathroom is split. On one side of the entrance hall is the bath and wash basin. On the other the W.C., bidet and another wash basin. No more fights for the loo!
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View from the Terrace of Lac Lugano.
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One of the two bathrooms
with each suite.
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The hallway leading to the rooms.
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Mini-suite. click for bigger photo.
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For all the attractions of the hotel, the restaurant is one of its main draws. Both the main restaurant of the hotel and the bistro at the hotel's three star younger brother across the street are run by Chef Dario Ranza, an Italian by ancestry, but Swiss by family, training and spirit.
Whether you are in Lugano on business, active holiday or just to let go, this hotel and restaurant will give you all things.
Hotel Villa Principe Leopoldo
5 via Montalbano
Lugano
CJ-6900 Switzerland
tel: 011-41-(091) 985.88.55
fax: 011-41-(091) 985.88.25
eMail:info@leopoldohotel.com
eMail:leopoldo@relaischateaux.fr
WebSite: http://www.relaischateaux.fr/leopoldo
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For a link to the Relais & Châteaux Group of hotels and restaurants own site, click on the button left.
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Click map below to see larger version.
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Map.
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Driving Instructions;
Leaving the freeway-autoroute-motorway-autostrada, enter using "Lugano-Sud" and take the direction "Lago". Stay on the left handside in reaching ghe first traffic light. Turn left towards "Ponte Tresa-Stazione". Thed to the second traffic light, turn left again, follow the direction "Ponte Tresa" and the placard for "Villa der Principe Leopoldo".
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Click map below to see larger version.
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Driving Map.
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