at Isola Bella, Lake Maggiore
It is one of the most enchanting places in northern Italy: Isola Bella, on Lake Maggiore, is one of the Borromean Islands, known for their beautiful landscapes and lush vegetation. As of May 2022, the Hotel Restaurant Delfino, a mid-18th-century building that Stendhal already mentioned in his Guide for the Use of Travelers in Italy, is back to its former glory on Isola Bella. A lengthy restoration, under the supervision of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, preserved the structure’s charm, thanks to the use of original materials and the restoration of original details.
Discover the Kitchen Restaurant on Lake Como
The recovery can be seen in many architectural elements and in furnishings. The floors are red and black cement tiles and Venetian terrazzo; the wooden beams and coffered ceilings feature the original color. Other elements brought back to life are the wrought-iron railings on the balconies, 1930s neo-Gothic-style iron chandeliers, and white ceramic chandeliers decorated with cherubs. To maintain the vintage allure of the furnishings, original furniture such as the chests of drawers in the rooms and the 1930s furniture in the bar and restaurant have been preserved. For the furniture and the decorations, the choice fell on Italian manufacturers such as Flos, Rubinetterie Cristina, and Dedar, which provided lights, faucets, and textiles; Ginori 1735 produced the plates according to design. Other furnishings and antiques complete a cozy, intimate and ‘lived-in’ environment. The exterior has restored traces of painted frames around the windows on the oldest part of the facade, probably dating back to 1791.
The Hotel Restaurant Delfino can seat 150 people, divided into four rooms, with a terrace overlooking Lake Maggiore; open from morning to evening, it also offers breakfast, a lounge bar, and a cocktail bar. Besides the restaurant, the Delfino offers two very exclusive suites, ‘Ninfea’ and ‘Ortensia’, complete with a living area and kitchenette, two bathrooms each, and a spectacular view of the Borromean Gulf. Isoleborromee.it
