Hotel Regina Palace, building in Stresa, Italy
Hotel Regina Palace is an Art Nouveau building sitting directly on the shore of Lake Maggiore in Stresa, in northern Italy. It has rooms overlooking the lake or garden, a wellness area with a sauna and an indoor pool set inside a grotto, heated outdoor pools, tennis courts, and an on-site restaurant serving regional dishes.
The hotel opened in the early 1900s, at a time when Stresa was becoming a favored stop for travelers exploring the Italian lakes. The building has been renovated over the decades but has kept much of its original Liberty-style character.
Ernest Hemingway stayed at the hotel and is said to have drawn inspiration for "A Farewell to Arms" during his time here. The grand salons still carry the feel of a place where writers and artists once gathered.
The hotel is within walking distance of Stresa's town center and train station, making it easy to arrive without a car. A private pier on the hotel grounds gives direct access to boat services for the Borromean Islands.
The indoor pool is housed inside a real rock grotto beneath the building, giving it a look unlike any standard hotel pool. The grotto was not built as a decorative feature but is a natural cavity that was incorporated into the structure during construction.
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