Valentina De Santis—the hospitality guru behind hotels like Grand Hotel Tremezzo (GHT), Passalacqua, and Villa Sola Cabiati in Lake Como—grew up on the shores of the Italian town, helping her family run their well-appointed properties. From pre-teen jobs of serving coffee and delivering newspapers at GHT to today, as the CEO, her role has also evolved in the industry.
Grand Hotel Tremezzo has been a staple in the famous shoreside destination for over 100 years; its reputation runs deep as an expertly designed and appointed place for visitors and locals alike. Passlacqua on the other hand is rather new, opened in 2022, yet was named the Best Boutique Hotel in the World just last year by The World’s 50 Best. In each, visitors will find De Santis’s flair everywhere, as she designed the interiors of each.
Valentina De Santis: From Lake Como to Milan
Courtesy of Grand Hotel Tremezzo.
“Like everything I do, for the interiors of our properties, I take a lot of inspiration from my family,” she shared with Whitewall last year. “We work together to choose even the smallest details and make sure that they all work together to create a real sense of place.”
When not on the shores of Lake Como, De Santis spends time in Milan, Rome, and elsewhere around the globe, honoring the time-tested traditions of her country and others. Inside each hotel, treasures from markets, fairs, bazaars, and auctions fill the space—like ceramics, framed art, and plush furniture. All are colorful reflections of De Santis’s esteemed taste.
Courtesy of Grand Hotel Tremezzo.
“It is one of my greatest joys to travel with my mother and father; to visit antique shows and artisan workshops throughout Italy, attend auctions, and meet traditional craftsmen and women. It’s truly a family affair! We strive to make our interiors a showcase of Italian artistry and an expression of our personalities at the same time. When the guests walk through the door, I believe they can feel the love and the passion that we put into sourcing the objets d’art, colorful textiles, and glittering chandeliers.”
In addition to running the Lake Como destinations, De Santis also designs a fashion and home label named Sense of Lake—available online and in both hotel boutiques.
In celebration of Milan Design Week, Whitewall spoke with De Santis about her favorite places in town to find emerging art, antique treasures, and a sight you must see to believe.
Valentina De Santis’s Milan Moments
Courtesy of Valentina De Santis.
WHITEWALL: Where is your best spot to find inspiration in Milan?
VALENTINA DE SANTIS: My favorite place to soak up inspiration in Milan is the Brera district, an area filled with artistic, architectural, and artisanal treasures. Wandering its narrow alleyways, you can nip into the swank boutiques and quirky vintage shops or visit charming heritage properties like Palazzo Brera with Pinacotaca Gallery and the University of Milan’s Botanical Gardens.
“Wandering its narrow alleyways, you can nip into the swank boutiques…”
Valentina De Santis
WW: Where is the off-the-beaten path to see art in Milan?
VDS: There is always something cool happening at Palazzo Reale, from Old Masters to modern icons. The Fondazione Prada, founded by Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli, which in 2015 transformed a former gin distillery into what I consider the coolest museum of Milan. And if you are looking for something more unique, there are countless art galleries to discover. One of my favorites for contemporary artists is Lia Rumma gallery in the Simonetta district.
“One of my favorites for contemporary artists is Lia Rumma…”
Valentina De Santis
Courtesy of Grand Hotel Tremezzo.
WW: What’s the best-kept secret in Milan?
VDS: The best-kept secret in Milan has to be Casa Cabana. It was the childhood home of Martina Mondadori—the founder and editor-in-chief of the interiors magazine and lifestyle brand Cabana. Originally designed by legendary set designer and interior decorator Renzo Mongiardino, the interiors in this place—quirky and layered and over the top—have to be seen to be believed. Martina sometimes opens her magical place to friends and lucky few for special happenings, and the magic begins.
Valentina De Santis’s Best of Milan
1. Brera
Brera, courtesy of Milano City Guide.
“Brera is located in the center of Milan, near Castello Sforzesco and Sempione Park. What to do in Brera Milan? In the neighbourhood you can visit the Pinacoteca di Brera as a place of interest. This museum can be found in the Accademia delle Belle Arti (the Art Academy of Milan). But the Brera district is more than this. When you walk through the district you will immediately notice the colorful houses and beautiful alleys. There are many plants, boutiques, cafes, restaurants and studios that make this an artistic and very characteristic district.” via Milano City Guide
2. Lia Rumma Gallery
Courtesy of Lia Rumma.
“Lia Rumma Gallery was founded in Naples in 1971 with the solo show The Eight Investigation (A.A.I.A.I.), proposition 6 by Joseph Kosuth. In 1999 Lia Rumma opened her space in Milan, in the Brera area, with a solo show by Enrico Castellani. Lia Rumma intends to address her research towards contemporary art movements both national and international (Arte Povera, Minimal Art, Conceptual Art) and towards their protagonists whom she invites to exhibit in her Neapolitan space: Vincenzo Agnetti, Giovanni Anselmo, Art&Language, Alighiero Boetti, Victor Burgin, Douglas Huebler, Emilio Isgrò, Donald Judd, Dan Graham, David Lamelas, Francesco Matarrese and Michelangelo Pistoletto to name a few.” via Lia Rumma
3. Casa Cabana
A screenshot from the “Cabana at Home” film featuring Casa Cabana, courtesy of Cabana magzazine.
“Casa Cabana designs and produces elegant tableware collections from artisans around the globe, with a distinct European style of hosting at home. With an uncompromising focus on artistry and craftsmanship, each piece embraces the art of entertaining based on the signature layered aesthetic of founder, Martina Mondadori.” via Cabana magazine
