Why do so many VIPs are choosing our Como Lake to spend their most intimate moments of relaxation? In these years I worked at the Hotel Posta Moltrasio I understood, and now I’ll explain our secret.

“Lario” is a magnificent lake, and there are many charts around the world that recognize it. In particular, I remember the Huffington Post chart “‘The World’s 20 Most Beautiful Lakes” that is positioning our Lake Como at the first place!

When italian and especially foreigner customers are coming, and they are asking us at the reception all kinds of information about tours to discover the Como area, about the traditional “Lario’s” food, or about the most romantic places to choose if you want to spend unforgettable evenings on Lake Como, but they don’t forget to ask about ‘ La dolce vita Lariana” that can still be felt on our lake.

For culture’s purists may seem strange to think that people could prefer to find VIPs rather than try to remember that at Villa Saporiti in Como or Villa Pliniana in Torno have passed VIPs like Lord Byron and Ugo Foscolo, Napoleone Bonaparte and Gioacchino Rossini; or that in Villa Melzi Gardens’ in Bellagio Stendhal has often found inspiration, or that in the beautiful Villa Balbianello in Lenno (today FAI’s heritage) have stayed Giuseppe Mazzini, Manzoni and Silvio Pellico!

Today many tourists, driven also by newspapers and gossip, prefer the so-called “VIPs watching”, prompting them to visit our Como Lake.

Elegance and discretion: why VIPs are choosing Lario

It is true, many Italian VIPs, but also foreigners and especially coming from Hollywood, they have chosen and they continue to choose the Como Lake, and Como people are proud and happy about it, but they don’t love to spread the news of their arrival. The list is endless, to name a few: Richard Gere, Tom Cruise, Richard Branson, Rupert Murdoch, Anthony Hopkins, Jamie Lee Curtis, Vincent Cassel, Denzel Washington, Valeria Mazza, Tori Spelling, Chelsea Klinton, Oasis, Robert de Niro , Madonna, Catherine Zeta Jones, Michael Douglas, Brad Pitt, Cindy Crawford and husband, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Drew Barrymore… The list is very long! Often the are staying in hotel’s (yes…we also had the pleasure of hosting some of them!) or sometimes they prefer to stay in homes or villas.

After years working at the Hotel Posta Moltrasio, I can be certain of one thing: VIPs are choosing Como Lake for great reception mixed with the confidentiality that Como people can give them. It is like, you could feel that famous people, always in the spotlight, want to live days of relaxation and personal intimacy. For that reason you must respect and preserve them, and we are happy to give them attention that they consider quiet and elegant.

George Clooney and fines for anyone who invades his privacy

In order to preserve the VIPs privacy during their “Lario” staying, some municipalities created “ad hoc” arrangements. The most recent was issued by Laglio’s mayor, Roberto Pozzi, in order to preserve the privacy of a really special guest: George Clooney. Clooney who is also the current ambassador of the famous coffee brand ‘Nespresso®’, and he turned on its last spot here at Como Lake, in particular they were at Villa Erba in Cernobbio. Clooney jumped again to gossip world attention’s because of his recent marriage with Amal Alamuddin. It’s a lot of years that he is also Villa Oleandra in Laglio owner’s, and he loves to stay there, to host friends and from which he often starts his motorcycle trips’ to explore the Lario Lake that particularly likes. To promote the privacy of his “Hollywood honorary citizen”, Pozzi imposed a total ban to approach the villa: stand with a boat less than 100 meters from the Clooney house shore’s, for example, will cost about 500 €. Dear curious, pay attention!

How to say? “Vip Watching” yes, but with respect!

photo credit: George Clooney via photopin (license)