This year, the Hotel Splendide Royal of Lugano celebrates an important anniversary: 125 years.
Over one hundred years of glorious activity which have seen this hotel grow in dimensions and prestige, in a perfect fusion between the charm conferred by its venerable age and the modernity it has chosen to adopt in the course of time. It was the fortunate intuition of Riccardo Fedele senior, descendent of a noble family of Bellinzona, that made him buy the beautiful Villa Merlina, set in a park on the side of Lake Ceresio, and to transform it into the Hotel Splendide, which was then inaugurated in 1887. The adjective Royal was added in 1956 by Riccardo Fedele junior, who took over the management following his father’s death and confirmed the status of the Splendide as a luxury hotel patronized by royal families and prominent figures of the political and cultural milieus.
In 1977 the heirs of the Fedele family sold the property to the family of Giovanni Naldi, an engineer who carried out extension work on the complex without in any way impairing the architectural beauty of the old building.
In the mid-nineties, Dr. Roberto Naldi became Chairman of the Splendide, a position he still occupies today, and had the rooms modernized. Following the acquisition of the hotel by the Naldi family, its management was entrusted to Aniello Lauro, the descendent of a family of hoteliers in Sorrento.
Up until his premature decease in 2008, Aniello Lauro conducted this hotel, fully aware that the secret of success lies in being able to win the guests’ confidence; a confidence that is gradually built up by maintaining an on-going dialogue and offering an impeccable service, so much so that one of the hotel’s winning features is that of a perfect and royal welcome.
Under his guidance, the Hotel Splendide Royal acquired international fame, attracting celebrities such as the Aga Khan, George Bush Senior, François Mitterrand, Lorin Maazel, Luciano Pavarotti, Alberto Sordi, Ray Charles to name but a few. Its management has now been entrusted to Giuseppe Rossi who, thanks to his extensive international hotel experience and his marvellous relationship with Aniello Lauro, continues to conduct this activity impeccably.
Today the Hotel Splendide Royal disposes of 93 rooms, 4 Junior Suites and 3 Suites. The La Veranda restaurant offers guests the possibility to enjoy excellent Mediterranean and international cuisine. The enchanting position of the Hotel Splendide Royal, looking straight onto Lake Ceresio, at a short distance from the centre of Lugano, the impeccable yet warm welcome extended to every guest, that special ability to create an intimate and caring environment, together with a refined cuisine, make the Hotel Splendide the ideal location for an unforgettable stay.
HOTEL SPLENDIDE ROYAL
Riva Antonio Caccia, 7
6900 Lugano
Svizzera
Tel.: +41(0)919857711
Fax: +41(0)919857722
