Villa d'Este in the Villa d'Este
06/20/2021
Every year, usually in June, an illustrious little community finds its way to the magnificent, opulent hotel complex on the shores of Lake Como in Cernobbio - the Villa d'Este. This place is steeped in history anyway: Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra and Ari Onassis have all passed through its doors. Kings and queens of Belgium, Holland and Norway have stayed here, as have Woody Allen, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, and fashion designers Donna Karan, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. Every now and then, a smart guy sips his espresso (or is it a martini - shaken, not stirred) at the Canova bar, just like in the TV commercials: George Clooney, who has just popped over from his neighboring property, the Villa Oleandra in Laglio, an 18th century palazzo. It is said that Graham Hill also used to stay at Villa d'Este during the Italian Grand Prix.
The illustrious company is a moving company - in the most beautiful form imaginable and in the truest sense of the word: they are the current owners (note the generic masculine) of an Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 "Villa d'Este". And there are not many who can call themselves that! Around 32 coupés were built from 1949 onwards, and 23 models are still known worldwide today, designed by Carrozzeria Touring employee Federico Formenti. Touring owner Carlo Felice Bianchi Anderloni chose the hotel complex of the "Villa d'Este" with its "Concorso d'Eleganza" for the presentation of the stunningly designed Alfa Romeo model. As the winner, decorated with the "Coppa d'Oro", the Alfa Romeo was henceforth allowed to bear the "Villa d'Este" seal of quality in its model name.
The presentation was a thunderbolt. The "who's who" of the "haute volée" of the time flocked to this car. Prince Rainier of Monaco secured himself a "Villa d'Este", as did the actress Rita Hayworth and the president's wife Eva Peron.
So what is the "Villa d'Este Style - One Car, One Event", which was held for the 10th time on the second Saturday in June 2021, all about? "The concept of this event is actually very simple, there is neither a fixed program nor an award ceremony," explains Macro Makaus and continues: "The important thing is to be present and enjoy the magnificent view of these special vehicles and the incredible surroundings".
In the end, five Villa d'Este models, several Touring SS coupés and Pininfarina convertibles plus a Touring Mille Miglia found their way to the shores of Lake Como. The car-loving crowd parleyed expertly in front of the cars, looked at details, went for a lunch served under old trees and then returned home with the firm intention of coming back again next year.
