Villa D'Este on Lake Como ~ Photography Imaging

This is one of the two main buildings of Villa d' Este, a grand, palacial hotel on the shores of Lake Como. It is one of the world's most elegant and expensive hotels, with rooms starting at about 700 Euros per night. The hotel is noted for is Renaissance gardens.

We had lunch outdoors on the lakefront plaza of the hotel, along with a group of 13 friends who visited Lake Como with us last May. This flower arrangement was at the center of our table.

The interior of Villa d' Este is elegant. It was built as a summer residence of the Cardinal of Como in 1565. It is located in Cernobbio, as small town about 10 km (6 miles) up the lake from Como.

After the Cardinal for whom the palatial villa was built died, the villa was used as a Jesuit retreat center, and then changed hands and was owned by a number of wealth European families.

The gardens of the Villa d' Este are delightful to walk around, and the interior of the Villa has quiet places for relaxation, such as this alcove at the end of a