Make your own memories in one of the most storied luxury estates on Lake Como at Villa Pliniana. This legendary palazzo, named after an intermittent spring nearby, dates from 1573. Throughout its history, it’s been the site of visits by the poet Percy Shelley, a stay by the composer Gioacchino Rossini, a rumored billiards game by Napoleon and romantic escapades on the loggia. After a renovation that preserved its gorgeous architectural details, this 18-bedroom vacation rental makes an incredible backdrop for a family reunion, a celebration with friends or a destination wedding. Your holiday at Villa Pliniana includes the services of a chef, butler and housekeeper. Arrive at the property in your own vehicle, land on the helipad or pull up to the private boat dock. The villa’s 18 acres of lakefront grounds include exquisitely maintained gardens, panoramic views of the lake and mountains and waterfalls in the 19th-century Romantic tradition. Entertain indoors in the ballroom, media room, or around the pool table or piano (the same one at which Rossini wrote the opera Tancredi in 1813), or unwind in the spa area, which features an indoor pool, steam bath, jetted tub and solarium. The villa’s interiors balance its original 16th century charm and detail with state-of-the-art comforts and a dash of modern flair. In the generously proportioned rooms on either side of the loggia, look down at the intricate Venetian terrazzo floors and up at the boiseries, frescoes and painted wooden ceilings. Furnishings selected by renowned Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola lend contemporary edge to the living rooms, dining areas and fully equipped kitchen. The 18 bedrooms at Villa Pliniana are divided between four suites, or casas, in the main house and three separate houses around the grounds. The accommodations range from four-bedroom suites that could easily host a family traveling with children to honeymoon-worthy retreats with only one bedroom. The property has twelve bedrooms with king beds and en-suite bathrooms, three king bedrooms with shared or private-access bathrooms, two bedrooms with two twin beds and one bedroom with one twin bed. Besides breathtaking lake views, each casa has unique features like an interior window overlooking the spring. From the villa’s tranquil setting in the village of Torno, it’s a short drive to the town of Como, with its waterfront restaurants, upscale boutiques and magnificent cathedral. Take a day trip to the nearby town of Mendrisio, in Switzerland, or the center of Italian fashion, design and commerce: Milan. Copyright © Luxury Retreats. All rights reserved....