Il Sereno occupies a unique space as the stylish and sleek newcomer among the ornate palatial resorts that circle Lake Como. Renowned architect and designer, Patricia Urquiola, is the genius behind this mid-century modern offering, juxtaposing warm woods and sharp angles with the rippling blues and greens of the lake, visible through floor-to-ceiling windows in almost every room. No two suites are exactly alike, but Urquiola grounds the hotel in its environment by using local materials like Como silk and Italian copper in the furnishings. Racing across the lake in one of Il Sereno’s wooden Riva motorboats, you’ll feel like the star of a Fellini film.