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The hotel opened
in 1902 at the south end of town, next to the lake and on the grounds of
the Villa Merlina, a 19th century villa known (1887)
for its spectacular
gardens.
The owners, the Fedele family enlarged the existing structure and opened
a 125-bed hotel, originally called the Hotel Splendide.
The hotel soon gained a steady clientele among the wealthy Europeans who
frequented this summer resort.
In 1977 an Italian hotel company bought the hotel from the Fedele family
and in 1983 they added a new wing with 53 guest rooms.
Today it is known as Lugano's foremost hotel, with 93 guest rooms and a
staff of 100 employees who provide meticulous personal service.
The hotel inspires loyalty among its clients, more than half the guests
here are usually repeat visitors. |
The influence of Italian culture is quite dominant in the city of Lugano, sitting on the shore of Lago di Lugano just across the lake from
Italy.
The area is now the largest resort in the Swiss canton of Ticino, as
well as Switzerland's third-largest banking center.
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