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THIS WINTER DISCOVER THE ‘GENIUS LOCI’ OF PASSALAQUA

October 13thITALY

The winter months of November and December are a special time to visit Passalacqua. After the hectic summer season, guests are invited to take a moment to enjoy ‘Dolce Far Niente’ – the quintessential practice of sweet idleness and enjoy quieter pursuits on offer at this exquisite 18th Century lake side resort. Born and brought up on Lake Como, the De Santis family and their team of experts have curated a range of pastimes and experiences to showcase the pleasures of villa living and provide a taste of real local life.

ENJOY THE GENIUS LOCI OF PASSALACQUA

This November and December, guests are invited to make themselves at home and enjoy all aspects of this fairy tale villa, particularly with its new full-board offering from the 1st November – 20th December 2022, starting from EUR 1,300 per night.  Be as indulgent or active as you like – the lakeside setting of Passalacqua allows guests to observe the changing colours of the season, from the chic glasshouse decorated in vibrant LaDoubleJ fabrics. Guests can take peaceful walks through the estate’s terraced gardens, work out in the olive grove gym or play a couple of sets on the panoramic tennis court or engaging in a match on the vintage bocce court.

As the temperatures cool this is the time to seek out a quiet corner to admire the beauty of the villa’s interiors – the original frescoes, grand Italian baroque style and exquisite craftsmanship. The library offers an extensive collection of precious books and a range of traditional board games to while away the time with pleasure. Guests are encouraged to wander into the open kitchen for a tempting snack, challenging themselves with Italian recipes prepared together with one of the talented chefs of the villa, taste the finest local wine accompanied in a special journey with the sommelier or play with flour to prepare a delicious pie with the pastry chef.  For a bit of ‘me-time’, guests can enjoy some well-deserved relaxation being pampered by luxurious Barbara Sturm treatments,  or enjoying moments of pure bliss in the vaulted underground spa, offering sauna and steam bath.

A host of daily in-house activities will give guests a deeper understanding of villa life and the Como way of living. After waking up with a breathtaking yoga class admiring the sun rising over the lake waters, and treating themselves to a decadent homemade breakfast featuring all local products including fresh eggs daily picked from the villa chicken coop, guests can try their hand at pizza and bread making, prepare beautiful flower arrangements with the in house florist or spend a morning foraging for mushrooms in the mountains, and recreate local winter specialities.

There is also an opportunity to visit the Medieval St Agatha Church, located just next to the entrance of the property and appreciate its Romanic frescoes, with the knowledge of a local person from Moltrasio that will be their special private guide. For those looking for more active pursuits, it is possible to deep dive into the nature just outside the gate of the villa exploring curated hiking trails spread over the mountains around, discovering the borgo’s secret waterfalls, and getting lost in hidden picturesque villages suspended in time.

A TASTE OF COMO LIVING

Winter is also a moment to be part of Como’s social elite and enjoy the opera season at the Teatro Sociale, the Opera House of Como whose beauty is second just to La Scala. The team at Passalacqua can arrange exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ tours before the shows to meet the artists while they train, reserve the best seats in the house in one of the charming ‘palcos’ and booking the place to be for ‘dopoteatro’ dining after the performance to follow in the Italian tradition. Excitingly for this season, ‘Norma’ by Vincenzo Bellini will be performed and guests can enjoy the special connection between Passalacqua and one of the most brilliant minds in music, Bellini, who made the villa his home in 1829, composing his most famous operas right in the music room. Today, Suite Bellini and Suite Norma are Passalacqua’s most beautiful suites, named in the great musician’s memory.

Guests can enjoy the age-old silk weaving tradition, dating back to the 18th century, with a private tour of the Silk Museum– showcasing everything from the silk-making process to heritage looms and clothing samples. Further afield, exclusive visits to the best and most secret silk shops are just the cherry on the cake for shopping lovers.

CHRISTMAS ON LAKE COMO

Those staying over the Christmas season can enjoy “Natale a Como”, a unique Christmas Festival, which sees Lake Como completely transformed into a magical destination through a series of traditional events and Christmas markets. Festivities are heightened with the Como Magic Light Festival, which lights up the facades of the buildings in the city centre and on the lake shores to create a special festive atmosphere everywhere. Back at the hotel, families and children alike can celebrate with a fun and interactive Christmas cookie and pastry making class, testing themselves at baking a reinvented ‘panettone’ with their favourite toppings or preparing the delicious traditional ‘torrone’ to bring at home. In-house florist, is on hand to help guests create festive decorations using freshly picked flowers from the gardens, while Silvio the General Manager delivers masterclasses for Christmas wreaths and tree ornaments.

Arguably the hottest European opening of 2022, Passalacqua is an incredible 18th century villa steeped in history that has been brought to life by leading Italian hoteliers, Paolo Antonella and Valentina De Santis. Known for the iconic Grand Hotel Tremezzo, the family has exceptional local knowledge and deep roots in the territory. It is their exquisite taste, genuine approach and warm Italian hospitality that separates this exceptional resort apart from everything else on the Lake – with guest happiness at its heart.

PRICES:

Start from EUR 900 per night based on two people sharing on a B&B basis and excluding taxes
Special full board offer 1st November – 20th December 2022 starting from EUR 1,300 per night
Minimum stay of three nights during Christmas and New Year festivities

For more details log onto passalacqua.it

HOW: By air – 45 minutes drive from Milan Malpensa International airport. By train – 36 minutes from Milan Centrale or Milano Porta Garibaldi station to Como san Giovanni Station Lake Como. By boat – 15 minute boat ride to Como.

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SIBBJÄNS ARRIVES ON GOTLAND, SWEDEN

February 2nd

SIBBJÄNS ARRIVES ON GOTLAND, SWEDEN

SIBBJÄNS ARRIVES ON GOTLAND, SWEDEN

A REGENERATIVE FARM STAY SHAPED BY SEASONS, FRIENDSHIP AND CRAFTSMANSHIP

Sweden

Sibbjäns began quietly, the combined dream of Jonas Nordlander and Sanna Rönn, who with close friends and many meaningful couples Pontus and Kina Zeidler share a life between Stockholm and Gotland. Over the past four years, they have steadily transformed this former horse farm into a regenerative stay that feels singular to anywhere else in Scandinavia.

After a soft opening in 2025 for friends and family, the farm stay now enters 2026 as its first full season, opening more intentionally to a like-minded global community drawn to nature, food, and thoughtful design.

 

A PLACE TO REST

 

22 individually designed rooms sit across the Hotel and ‘The Bunkhouse,’ each named after important women in the family and among their friends. Adorned with classic Scandi touches of sheepskin throws, limewashed walls, soft palettes, and contemporary art, the spaces are designed for comfort.

Buildings are framed by wildflowers and constructed using traditional methods, much of the work completed by hand, with local craftsmanship central to the process. Architect Maja Berg has been a key contributor, working alongside Erik Larsson, a Master of Gotlandic Craft Heritage, who built some of the original buildings himself and continues to pass on traditional building knowledge to the next generation.

THE KITCHEN FOLLOWS THE FARM

At the heart of Sibbjäns is a working farm home to hens, Mangalitza pigs, horses, and sheep, with agriculture guiding both the kitchen and the guest experience.

In the gardens, lead gardener and local Karin Winarve brings a quiet hand to what thrives here across meadows, vegetable beds, and fruit-growing plots. Produce is grown on-site and harvested seasonally, forming the backbone of a true farm-to-table approach—one that pauses entirely during the winter months when the land rests.

 

EXPERIENCES & ‘VIKING WELLNESS’

New for the 2026 season, wellbeing at Sibbjäns is restorative rather than prescriptive. Inspired by Nordic traditions and the physicality of outdoor life, the evolving wellness offering includes:

  • A hand-built yoga barn

  • A wood-fired sauna

  • An outdoor gym

  • Recreational spaces

  • The beginnings of what will become one of the world’s most beautiful tennis courts.

The surrounding landscape invites guests to engage with nature on its own terms, from cycling or horse riding across open farmland to kitesurfing along Gotland’s windswept coastline (widely regarded as one of the finest spots in Europe for the sport). This is ‘Viking wellness’ in spirit—elemental, grounding, and quietly transformative.

 

SWEDEN’S ‘SUNSHINE ISLAND’

Gotland is Sweden’s sunniest destination, known for its distinctive light, limestone landscapes, and strong ‘right to roam’ ethos. Open from Easter through to Christmas and closed entirely during the dark winter months, Sibbjäns follows the natural calendar rather than resisting it.

Reaching it is part of the journey:

  • A short flight from Stockholm to the island’s capital of Visby, followed by a drive across the island.

  • A ferry crossing that reinforces the sense of arrival somewhere distinct and deliberately unhurried.

  • For those preferring a more direct approach, arrival by helicopter is also possible.

At its core, Sibbjäns remains a place for friends old and new built slowly, grounded in nature, and designed to endure.

BRENNERS PARK-HOTEL & SPA REOPENS AFTER LANDMARK RENOVATION

November 5th

BRENNERS PARK-HOTEL & SPA REOPENS AFTER LANDMARK RENOVATION

A New Chapter Begins as Europe’s Legendary Grand Hotel Returns

Alive with the Spirit of the Black Forest and the Cultural Pulse of Baden-Baden

Germany

Following a meticulous two-year transformation, Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa, the original grande dame of the Oetker Hotels portfolio, proudly reopens its doors – ushering in a revitalised era of timeless hospitality and contemporary finesse.
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