Right on the shores of Lake Lugano and within walking distance of the Old Town of Lugano, the 5-star Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola is set within a private, subtropical park. The hotel offers an indoor pool, a tennis court, 3 restaurants, and free WiFi. The 2 gourmet restaurants, Le Relais and Gallery Arté al Lago, and the La Rucola offer Mediterranean dishes from the freshest seasonal ingredients and selected wines from the well-stocked cellar. Once the home of a noble Russian family, the impressive mansion was transformed into a hotel in 1885. Rooms and suites in the Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola are individually decorated and have stunning park and/or lake views, a balcony, a terrace or loggia. Bus stops, the boat pier and the funicular to Monte Brè can be found in the immediate vicinity. Several cafés, shops and restaurants can be found in the city center, only a few steps away.