Il Sereno

The place

On the eastern shore at Torno, Il Sereno is Patricia Urquiola's answer to Lake Como — wood and stone outside, clean modernist lines within.

All 40 suites face the sun. Designer furniture, lofty ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a scenic private terrace where the lake does the decorating.

The lakefront infinity pool blurs into the water beyond it; day beds line the sundeck, and the lake itself is a step away. An intimate spa holds a hot tub, sauna, steam room, fitness center, and treatment rooms. In the kitchen, chef Raffaele Lenzi keeps things down to earth — local ingredients at center stage, served from the dining room out to the breezy terrace.