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Soon there’ll be another reason besides a return to the footsteps of James Bond and Star Wars Episode 2 to visit the undulating shores of Lombardy, where Villa Balbianello served as a filming location for both film franchises.<\/p>\n
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The sapphire-green waters of Lake Como, north of Milan, are coming out of their torpor with the Belmond Group’s acquisition of the villa Castello di Urio, featuring a landscaped park of almost two hectares with private shoreline.<\/p>\n
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The deal is due to be finalized in 2024, according to the newspaper Milano Finanza.<\/p>\n
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In a note, Belmond, the hotel arm of the LVMH group, stated that it had reached an agreement to acquire the Castello di Urio, a property located in Carate Urio, confirming the information originally revealed by local newspaper La Provincia di Como.<\/p>\n
However, the hotel group has not revealed the details of the transaction or the function it will perform.<\/p>\n
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But all indications are that it will be a new hotel under the Belmond brand. Given the proportions of the majestic building, it could also be a future foundation or even a museum, further strengthening the group’s link with the preservation of cultural heritage.<\/p>\n
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The iconic lakeside establishments of Grand Tremezzo and Passalacqua on what is Italy’s third largest lake – with a surface area of 146 km\u00b2 – will now have LVMH, or rather Belmond, as their illustrious “neighbor”.<\/p>\n
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The Castello di Urio site<\/strong> sought by Belmond is home to a 16th-century residence, fortified in the 19th century.<\/strong><\/p>\n The exceptional waterfront location, with 180 meters of private shoreline<\/strong>, features a 1.9-hectare landscaped park<\/strong> with antique-inspired statues and fountains in Carate Urio<\/strong>, 59 km (37 miles) from Milan.<\/p>\n\n<\/p>\n \t\t