"This historic 14th-century villa, fully refurbished in 2018, sits on the shores of Lake Como in Varenna and blends timeless Italian charm with modern luxury. Its signature terraced gardens cascade down to the water and are filled with exotic plants, purple wisteria and bright flowers, offering sweeping lake views and glimpses of Bellagio across the water; an iconic set of gates that lead directly to the lake provides a much-photographed focal point. The property has 32 rooms across three buildings (including an ancient wing dating to the 1300s), with room categories ranging from classic village-view rooms to deluxe and prestige lake-view rooms, plus five suites — Junior Suite Tremezzo, Junior Suite Bellagio, Suite Mimosa, Garden Suite, and Suite Magnolia — each offering spacious living areas, large beds, sleek TVs and minibars restocked daily. Dining is available at two restaurants located next door on the grounds of Hotel Royal Victoria: Restaurant Visteria for fine Italian/Mediterranean cuisine with lake views, and Victoria Grill for casual Italian favorites facing the main square; both emphasize fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Wellness offerings include the Suite Spa with massages and facials, a Finnish sauna, steam bath and a color-therapy shower. The hotel feels peaceful and serene, is rated four stars, provides conveniences such as private balconies/terraces in select rooms, flat-screen TVs, complimentary Wi‑Fi and air conditioning, and is an easy stroll to Varenna’s shops and trattorias with the ferry terminal about five minutes away; rates start around $440/night."