The Grand Hotel des Iles Borromee was originally built as a luxury residence for tourists visiting Lake Maggiore and its beautiful islands, thanks to the idea of a family of hoteliers, the Omarini, who already ran a hotel on Isola Bella. The hotel was built amidst the Unification of Italy and the opening of the Strada del Sempione (Simplon Road), which favoured the affluence of foreign visitors from all over Europe.
The hotel is renowned for its elegant, refined Belle Époque-inspired style and its top-level services, including a restaurant, a bar, a garden, and a lakeside dock. The hotel rapidly became a popular destination for nobility, politics, art and culture, hosting illustrious dignitaries such as the royal families of Italy and Europe, Stendhal, Fogazzaro, D’Annunzio, Toscanini, Chaplin and Callas. Among its most famous guests was Ernest Hemingway, who stayed in room 106 on the 1st floor and was inspired by the hotel to write his masterpiece ‘Farewell to Arms’.
Today, the hotel still retains the charm and prestige of yesteryear, thanks to a painstaking restoration project that has enhanced its original architecture and décor. The hotel provides its guests with top-quality services, such as a spa, an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a conference centre and comfortable, personalised rooms and suites.
The hotel is the ideal choice for those who wish to experience the unique charm of one of the oldest and most fascinating locations on Lake Maggiore.