For over a century, it has been the "Grand Hotel Villa d'Este" one of the oldest and most prestigious hotels in the world.
In 1557, Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio commissioned a renowned architect, possibly Pellegrini, to build him a "grand villa." The villa is called "il Gàrrovo" after a small river that flows nearby. After changing ownership several times, in 1784, it was acquired by Marquis Bartolomeo Calderara and his wife Maria Vittoria. After the death of her husband, Maria Vittoria Calderara married General Domenico Pino, one of the prominent generals of Napoleon I's staff.
In 1815, Countess Pino sold the Villa "del Gàrrovo" to Princess Caroline of Wales, the future Queen of England. This lady gave the name "Villa d’Este" to her new home, as she herself, like her spouse, descended from the distant d'Este family.
"Villa d'Este" passed to Baron Ippolito Ciani in 1833, who had the building constructed in Moorish style towards the lakefront, naming it "Reine d'Angleterre" in memory of the Princess of Wales, who never became queen. The heirs of Baron Ciani later decided to transform this splendid villa into the current Grand Hotel.
