Villa Principe Leopoldo and Residence: Discover One of Europe’s Last Paradises at Lake Lugano, Switzerland

July 8th, 2008, by Mary Winston Nicklin

Villa Principe Leopoldo and Residence: Discover One of Europe’s Last Paradises at Lake Lugano, Switzerland

Villa Principe Leopoldo The magnificent setting on the Collina d’Oro (Golden Hill) overlooking the sparkling waters of Lake Lugano has inspired many visitors, including the Nobel laureate author Hermann Hesse who lived here in Montagnola for 45 years and called it “one of Europe’s last paradises.” This sunny corner of Switzerland, encircled by softly rounded mountains, offers a magic backdrop for the best kind of European getaway– and it’s not far from Zurich and Milan. The place to stay is the Villa Principe Leopoldo, named in homage to Prince Leopold Von Hohenzollern, for whom the villa was built in 1926. Guests here feel like they are staying in a princely private residence high above the sparkling white city of Lugano; the luxurious suites and sumptuous drawing room are adorned with magnificent art and the service embodies the finest traditional Swiss hospitality. There is a wealth of activities and excursions available in the area- from hiking and boating, to shopping in the lakeside resort of Lugano. A member of the Relais and Chateaux Collection, the Villa Principe Leopoldo is a privileged place made for the joy of living.