This villa situated in Cernobbio, Lake Como, Italy, was originally built in the 16th century as a summer residence for Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio. In 1816–1817 the villa was home to Caroline of Brunswick, estranged wife of the Prince of Wales and shortly to become Queen Consort of King George IV of the United Kingdom. The famous mosaic wall and fountains act as the gate to the Renaissance style gardens of the villa and there is a magnificent water staircase that runs down from the Hercules fountain.
By 1873, it was transformed into a five-star luxury hotel and ever since, it has played host to some of he world's most famous poets, painters and musicians, not to mention royalty; Byron, Rossini, Verdi, Puccini, Mark Twain, Douglas Fairbanks, Elizabeth Taylor, Mel Gibson and Sharon Stone!
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