Why you should experience Hotel Barchetta Excelsior in Lake Como, Italy.
Hotel Barchetta Excelsior is where classic Italian lakeside glamour meets front-row Como elegance, where decades of hospitality unfold beneath sweeping waterfront views, and where stepping inside feels like entering a refined, light-filled haven set directly on Piazza Cavour, one of Lake Como's most iconic, cinematic promenades.
Rising proudly along the shoreline at the very heart of Como, the hotel commands a perfect vantage point: sunlit water stretching toward Brunate's forested slopes, elegant boats gliding in and out of the harbor, and the city's historic streets unfolding just behind you. From the moment you arrive, the atmosphere blends the sophistication of a grand European hotel with the ease of a contemporary lakeside retreat. Step inside and the mood shifts into polished comfort, warm wood accents, soft lighting, modern Italian furnishings, curated artwork, marble touches, and large windows that keep the lake always in view. The aesthetic is refined, understated, and welcoming. Rooms and suites enhance that sense of calm. Expect plush bedding, crisp linens, elegant neutral palettes, contemporary furnishings, and floor-to-ceiling windows or balconies that open onto the lake, the piazza, or Como's elegant city streets. Lake-view rooms feel especially magnetic, morning light shimmering across the water, distant church bells echoing over the piazza, and nighttime reflections turning the harbor into a mirror of soft city lights. Bathrooms are modern, sleek, and thoughtfully designed, marble vanities, rainfall showers or deep tubs, warm lighting, and amenities chosen for everyday indulgence. Suites expand the experience with additional space, upgraded décor, panoramic balconies, and quiet living areas ideal for longer stays or romantic weekends. Dining is a highlight. The hotel's restaurant overlooks Piazza Cavour and the water beyond, offering classic Italian dishes crafted with fresh, regional ingredients. Expect handmade pastas, lake fish, grilled meats, seasonal salads, Lombardy specialties, elegant desserts, and wines that pair beautifully with warm evenings along the shoreline. Breakfast is generous and scenic, fresh pastries, fruit, cheeses, eggs, yogurts, breads, juices, and excellent Italian coffee served as the city stirs awake around the lake. The bar and lounge add another layer of comfort, cocktails, wine, and espresso served with front-row views of the waterfront, perfect for late-afternoon breaks or evening relaxation. Service is polished, warm, and attentive, professional yet personal, grounded in decades of hospitality expertise. Staff members offer thoughtful recommendations for boat tours, day trips, hikes, shopping, and the many cultural sites that define Como's rich identity. The location is exceptional. Hotel Barchetta Excelsior sits on the edge of Piazza Cavour, steps from the cathedral, boutique shops, cafés, boat terminals, the promenade, and the funicular to Brunate. You can wander through Como's historic heart, sail across the lake, explore famed villas and gardens, or stroll the lakeside paths that curve toward Villa Olmo, all without needing a car.
What you should know about Hotel Barchetta Excelsior.
Hotel Barchetta Excelsior stands on land shaped by ancient Roman settlement, medieval commerce, aristocratic lake culture, and Como's transformation into a grand 19th-century destination, making its waterfront position part of one of Italy's most historically significant promenades.
In Roman times, the area that is now Piazza Cavour formed part of the shoreline edge of Novum Comum, the Roman castrum planned by Julius Caesar. Archaeologists have uncovered foundations, pottery fragments, and sections of Roman stonework in the vicinity, evidence of early docks and waterfront commerce. Throughout the medieval era, this section of Como served as a working harbor and trade hub. Merchants used the waterfront for transporting textiles, timber, olive oil, spices, and stone between Como, Milan, and the Swiss valleys. Narrow alleys around today's hotel were once busy passageways for carts, fishermen, and traders moving goods between the water and Como's fortified city center. By the 17th and 18th centuries, Como emerged as a center for silk production. The waterfront attracted wealthy textile merchants, many of whom built villas, warehouses, and elegant residences along the promenade. The land beneath the hotel once belonged to families associated with the silk guilds, its position offering immediate access to shipping routes that linked Como to northern Europe. In the early 19th century, the current piazza began to take shape as a civic square. The expansion of tourism across Europe brought aristocrats, writers, and early travelers to Lake Como. Steamships began operating on the lake in the 1820s, transforming the waterfront into a glamorous arrival point for visitors exploring the Alpine lakes. The building that preceded Hotel Barchetta Excelsior emerged during this era, a refined lakeside residence that later transitioned into hospitality as tourism expanded. By the late 1800s, Como had become a cosmopolitan destination. Travelers arriving by train or steamer often made their first stop along this very shoreline. The hotel evolved into one of Como's central accommodations, hosting merchants, artists, travelers, and guests attending cultural salons and lakeside events. Renovation work over the decades revealed remnants of its past: sections of old retaining walls tied to medieval docks, terracotta piping used for early drainage, carved stone blocks from 18th-century structures, and fragments of decorative plaster hinting at aristocratic interiors. A lesser-known detail: the curve of Piazza Cavour's shoreline aligns almost exactly with ancient Roman engineering used to shelter boats from southern winds, meaning the land beneath the hotel once served as a naturally protected harbor for centuries before becoming a scenic promenade. Today, Hotel Barchetta Excelsior carries all these layers of history, Roman engineering, medieval commerce, aristocratic elegance, early tourism, and modern lakeside living woven into one iconic Como landmark.
How to fold Hotel Barchetta Excelsior into your trip.
Hotel Barchetta Excelsior becomes the perfectly placed, view-filled anchor of your Lake Como journey, where mornings begin with soft waterfront light, afternoons unfold into ferry rides and historic exploration, and evenings settle into warm, romantic strolls along the promenade.
Start your morning with breakfast overlooking the lake, fresh pastries, fruit, cheeses, eggs, and cappuccino served as boats glide gently across the water. After breakfast, wander through Como's historic center. Visit the cathedral, explore artisan boutiques, stroll the narrow medieval lanes, or walk toward the Tempio Voltiano and the modern waterfront parks. Late morning is perfect for a ferry ride. Step onto a boat directly from Piazza Cavour and sail to Cernobbio, Moltrasio, Torno, Bellagio, or Varenna. Explore villas, botanical gardens, scenic promenades, or swim in quiet coves. Return to Como for lunch, fresh pasta, lake fish, salads, or simple Italian classics enjoyed at a lakeside café or back at the hotel's terrace. Spend the afternoon strolling the promenade, riding the funicular to Brunate for sweeping alpine views, exploring local museums, or relaxing in your lake-view room with windows open to the breeze. As evening approaches, begin aperitivo at the hotel bar, cocktails, prosecco, or wine paired with olives, cheese, and the soft glow of sunset on the harbor. For dinner, enjoy refined Italian cuisine at the hotel's restaurant or wander into Como's lively trattorias for a romantic meal beneath lantern-lit streets. After dinner, take a nighttime lakeside walk, watching lights dance across the water, listening to soft waves, and savoring the energy of the piazza at night. Return to your room for a peaceful wind-down, dimmed lighting, open balcony doors, and the stillness of Como reflecting across the water.
Where your story begins.
Start your planning journey with Foresyte Travel.
Experience immersive stories crafted for luxury travelers.
