Weddings at Villa SOLA CABIATI
One of the largest private residences in Lake Como, this grand 16th century palazzo is replete with lush gardens, dynamic lakeside event spaces, Baroque era frescos and an ornately gilded interior
WEDDINGS AT VILLA SOLA CABIATI
Villa Sola Cabiati wears Italian summers like a Valentino headscarf - a breezy riviera reverie that's ever-mindful of its noble heritage. Grandeur runs through every preserved fresco nook and lush flowering cranny of this historic palazzo built in the 16th century and renovated by the aristocratic Serbelloni family in the 1700s. Now managed by the same family who owns + manages its next-door neighbor, the illustrious Grand Hotel Tremezzo, the museum-worthy interiors and extraordinary grounds of Villa Sola Cabiati have found new applications. Bellagio may be the Pearl of the Lake, but "La Quiete" is its soul.
Neoclassical Wedding Cake
Aristocratic Opulence
Style
Glittering panoramas of the lake, backdropped by the colorful village of Bellagio and the Grigne mountains
17th c frescoes, immaculate stucco work, Murano glass chandeliers, Venetian marble mosaic inspired floors and antique furnishings like silk-upholstered sofas
Views
16th c Palazzo
Exclusive Use/Full Buyout
Type
One of the largest private residences in Lake Como, this grand 16th century palazzo is replete with lush gardens, dynamic lakeside event spaces, Baroque era frescos and an ornately gilded interior
Photos courtesy of Villa Sola Cabiati
Photos courtesy of Villa Sola Cabiati
THE LOOK
It's impossible to miss Villa Sola Cabiati's marvelous Italian gardens when cruising past this Neoclassical palazzo from the lake. Divided into four exquisite parterres, sinuous gravel paths + conservative dollops of flower beds unfurl in romantic arabesque plumes reminiscent of old-world filigree - one might wonder if the landscaper found inspiration in the Illuminated Manuscripts themselves.
The place feels frozen in time, and that's exactly how we'd like it. As if stepping into a painting, the three parlor rooms on the ground floor connect to form the ultimate embodiment of Belle Epoque opulence. Mosaico venezia floors, spectacular stucco ceilings by Muzio Canzio, antique furnishings, Murano glass chandeliers, regal busts and the like are positioned before the ornately frescoed partitions from the 1700s that might have you stammering "mural, mural on the wall" for the entire length of Bellini's “La sonnambula”. From the richly appointed interiors to the classic lake-blue shutters, no property seems to epitomize Lake Como like this.
Photos by Paul Barbera
THE EVENT SPACES
As with most centuries-old palazzos sprinkled across Lake Como, Old World elegance abounds from top to bottom and side to side. There are simply no corners of these sprawling grounds, opulent interiors and Neoclassical architecture that feel tired or unphotogenic, leaving you spoiled for choice when it comes to determining your flow of wedding events. As you can guess from the visual narrative so far, Villa Sola Cabiati carries this torch of aesthetic rigor with pride.
Arrivals can take place by Venetian water taxi (or any other floating transport of your choice), mooring at the four sets of sycamore-shaped steps designed by architect Francesco Bernardini Ferrari in 1813. Such an approach feels iconically Lake Como, as your guests would step immediately through the monumental wrought iron gates, frosted with gold, and into the manicured Italian gardens so beloved by hopeless romantics and aerial photographers for their mesmerizing symmetry and elegant formality. Fortunatamente, arrivals by car have access to this grand entrance too. These gardens also make for a lovely Cocktail Hour space, speckled with a sundry of lounge vignettes, cocktail tables and bars that can stand guard all the way through dancing in case any of your guests fancy stepping into an enchanting garden at twilight for a splash of cool air or romantic sweet nothings. Long tables can even be set up for dinner in this space, and truly, it's hard to argue against the picture-perfect ambiance of this setting for your sunset wedding feast.
If you were to walk from these gardens, up to the double glass-paned doors and through heart of the palazzo, you'd stumble right into the official front side of Villa Sola Cabiati. If your guests were arriving to the villa by car on this side, they'd pass through a beautiful set of wrought-iron gates, rampant with natural greenery, that open up to reveal the splendorous villa as if sharing a secret with just them. Flower-bordered steps of pebble + stone create a natural aisle towards the villa's lake-blue door framed by a duo of terra cotta potted topiaries, making this location a prime ceremony option if you want to save the grand Italian garden reveal for Cocktail Hour or Dinner. Of course, this is an equally marvelous dinner, cocktail or welcome drinks space if it's a feeling of grace and intimacy you're going for during this portion of the day or ancillary event.
This elegant Italian party pad even comes with a mind-soothing pool set inside a Secret Garden corner of the 10-acre estate. Set on a sloping lawn just behind the villa, we like this al fresco oasis of calm for a cocktail style Welcome Reception or casual pool bbq the day after the wedding. You'll already have cushion bedecked sun loungers, a cotton canopied pergola and a massive cabana-style bed at your disposal!
Inside the villa, the three connecting parlors on the ground floor are often used for dinner + dancing, or as a rain backup option for all wedding events. There's also the poetically designed drawing room on the first floor that opens up into a glorious balcony overlooking the formal gardens + lake. Fanciful pastel hues, frescoed walls, whimsical glass-blown chandeliers... the lavish interiors provide a fitting canvas for a more pared-down table design and color palette. Layered neutrals and refined textures always shine here!
Photos courtesy of Villa Sola Cabiati and by Stepan Vrzala, Federico Lanuto, Bottega 53, Katie Grant and Julie Livingston
Photos by Paul Barbera
THE ROOMS
Six rooms sleep up to 12 guests inside Villa Sola Cabiati, though the Grand Hotel Tremezzo is literally steps away for your overflow accommodation needs. Historic furnishings hobnob with contemporary upgrades in the recently refurbished suites, all of them worthy of infinite fanfare for their generous lake views. This philosophy of honored heritage and want-for-nothing grandeur runs deep through each of the guest rooms, though this is where the similarities stop. Each suite personifies a distinct style from the Baroque style Suite Gianvico with its copper-hued, gilt mirror-clad walls and original parquet floors to the more tender Suite Amalia with its subtle floral wallpaper predating the villa itself. Couples getting married at Villa Sola Cabiati have their pick of the litter when it comes to guest rooms ranging from dark and sombre to bright and uplifting. And what's more, all rooms are en-suite, while 3 of them have showers in addition to their freestanding, claw-foot bathtubs.
Guests staying at the villa will even maintain access to all Grand Hotel Tremezzo's facilities - which, if you haven't committed to memory yet, has 3 outrageously fabulous pools in addition to a world-class spa, tennis court, dining standouts and experiences from cooking classes to painting workshops. To complete the picture of living like a 16th c aristocrat, your stay at Villa Sola Cabiati encompasses a dedicated staff of a private butler, chef, maid, housekeeper and villa manager.
Photos courtesy of Villa Sola Cabiati and by Stepan Vrzala, Federico Lanuto, Bottega 53, Katie Grant and Julie Livingston
THE LOCATION
Sandwiched between Lombardy's most beloved glittering lake and the forest-eclipsed slopes of the Rhaetian Alps, Villa Sola Cabiati is a locus of dolce far niente. Bellagio sits just across the water, about a 10 minute boat ride from the villa's private dock, though Tremezzina is mere steps away. Not only can overnight guests of Villa Sola Cabiati soak up all the perks of Grand Hotel Tremezzo guests, the esteemed gardens of Villa Carlotta are within shouting distance as well. Though one would never dare test the theory... the only raised voices heard in these parts are the ethereal larks from fluttering songbirds.
Further, the villa is only a few minutes’ drive to the village of Lenno, whose crown jewel just happens to be Villa del Balbianello - a scenic location you'll recognize in films like Casino Royale and Star Wars: Episode II. Menaggio is another cobblestoned town nearby, a patchwork of sidewalk cafes made for people-watching and gelato-licking. Not far from Menaggio's town center is an esteemed golf course to boot.
One must also pay a visit to the beguiling village of Varenna while calling Villa Sola Cabiati "home base" - its colorful harbor as recognizable as a bright orange bottle of Aperol. There are the magnificent gardens of Villa Cipressi and Villa Monastero to explore, the 12th c Chiesa di Santa Maria del Tiglio in Gravedona to discover and the villa-lined hamlet of Laglio to test your star-spotting skills.
All in all, the location of Villa Sola Cabiati feels as divinely appointed as strategically planned. A wunderkind of holiday homes along Lake Como's tinsel-esque shores.
Photos by Paul Barbera
"Above the entrance of the Villa Sola Cabiati, the words “Villulae Quietem” can be seen inscribed into the magnificent, centuries-old stone facade. Meaning “the stillness of a small villa”, this inscription was made in homage by its former owners, the Dukes of Serbelloni." - Accidentally Wes Anderson
THE BEST FIT FOR
Weddings at Villa Sola Cabiati are the best fit for couples with a maximum guest count of 70, as no marquee structures may be installed in the Italian gardens, leaving the indoor parlors as the primary weather backup option on the estate. We find that the sweet spot lies around 20 if you're hosting all wedding events on-site, as this more intimate number will allow you to utilize the different locations on-site in dynamic ways. The front entrance garden for your Welcome Dinner, the Italian Garden for your ceremony, the secret gardens on either side of the palazzo for the Cocktail Hour, the interior parlors for dinner + dancing, the Pool for your sendoff bbq...
If you're seeking a strategic wedding location for your guests to explore Lake Como's most popular villages, it doesn't get much better than this decadent Belle Epoque wedding venue so reminiscent of a classical wedding cake with layer upon layer of buttercream frosting + opulent frill. Complemented best by a timeless elegance wedding aesthetic, Villa Sola Cabiati is a superior choice for couples who want to combine the modern accommodations, five-star amenities, luxury service standards and top-of-the-line catering from Grand Hotel Tremezzo with the old world romantic setting of a Neoclassical palazzo boasting opulent formal gardens.
How to Reach Villa SOLA CABIATI
PLANE
Lugano Agno Airport (LUG)
50 min
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)
1 hr, 10 min
Milan Linate Airport (LIN)
1 hr, 30 min
Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY)
1 hr, 45 min
TRAIN
Como San Giovanni
40 min (by car or private boat)
Como
40 min
Lugano
40 min
Milan
1 hr, 15 min
St. Moritz
2 hr
Photos courtesy of Villa Sola Cabiati and by Theresa Kelly Photography, Paul Barbera and Balygin
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