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| Stresa,
Italy receives |
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Extraordinary - Society |
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5 Stars
& 6 Stripes
Hotel & Service |
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The Ultimate
Award:
Seven Stars and Stripes™ |
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| We landed at Malpensa Airport in Milan on a beautiful
spring day, the arrival halls were buzzing with happy people. It took us less
then an hour to reach our destination Villa Aminta, a privately owned and
managed historic, exclusive boutique hotel. The Zanetta family purchased the
run-down hotel circa 5 years ago and has brought the diamond-in-the-ruff to new
life. Built early 19th century as a private estate, it is now sparkling with
great splendor at the bluer-then-blue Lago Maggiore. The Zanetta family has
accomplished to create a most charming and intimate atmosphere with classy
baroque elegance. Situated in the beautiful hills of Stresa, these
breathtaking
views of the Lago Maggiore and the Borromean Islands - rock! |
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| A pleasant check-in at a fine
marble reception desk was slowed down by our own doing as we were just
mesmerized by the splendorous stucco work and the spectacular golden iron
staircase. Through the open veranda doors and windows wonderful fragrances of
azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons set the mood on relax. On the way to our
accommodations we passed an inviting reading lounge with luxurious sofas, a
piano and a cozy fireplace. |
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Daniela Zanetta & Thorsten Piosczyk |
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"Villa Aminta is privately owned and managed by Roberto and Beatrice
Zanetta and their daughter
Daniela. The soft-spoken, easy mannered woman who
has nothing to prove, leads hands-on." ~ TP |
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| Our
accommodations
where dressed in tasteful peach, reds and gold. The most delightful colors of
the deep alpine lake were revealed through the balcony door. Each accommodation
was individually decorated, but all displayed delicate art stucco, sparkling
chandeliers and wonderful period furnishings. It became obvious to us that the
decorator was in love with this place. Our bellman closed the door at our
request and turned on the AC, not a sound. My wife would have loved this
splendid marble bath with all the amenities she so badly needs. I did
appreciate the Plasma TV and the wireless Internet connection instead. After
I'd checked my e-mails I drew the bubble bath of a lifetime. I dropped half of
the little bottle in the Jacuzzi tub. That was the moment when I truly missed
Simone; we would have had a bubble ball ;) Instead I put on my swimming trunks,
slipped into a fluffy white bathrobe and met with my photographer Arno at the
sparkling freeform swimming pool. |
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Please
take a closer look |
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"The
unobstructed romantic lake view, the magnificent wall decor, the
antique
furnishings, the lace, the crystal, the gleaming brass...” TP |
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| That very evening I would find another reason to miss
Simone while dining at the newly opened restaurant 'I Mori' when the large
fishbowl panorama windows forced me to discuss the reflection of the 'romantic'
moon over Lago Maggiore with Arno. The picture of Lago Maggiore at night
through this 'oh so' precious dining room windows we shall not
forget. |
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by
Thorsten Piosczyk & Arno Goudschaal
Editor-in-Chief: John
Lomitola
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| © 2005 ~ Seven Stars and Stripes, Inc. |
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