Hotel Stella d’Italia
Established 1910
Run with passion and dedication from four generations of the Ortelli family, the hotel, nestled in the small village of San Mamete (Valsolda), has a history lasting over 110 years that we happily share with you.
The Perfect Italian Getaway
The hotel is the perfect getaway where tranquillity immediately sends you into low gear, with a backdrop of gentle splashing from bathers swimming in the lake. The hotel radiates an old style charm with souvenirs of past travellers, but the real gem is the garden and restaurant positioned on the lake with pergolas of seasonal flowers providing shade and atmosphere.
History of the Hotel
The original part of the building, a 17th century villa, was bought in 1909 by Alfredo Ortelli and opened as hotel, after some renovation works in 1910. Alfredo was the 13th son of a family from Griante on Lake Como. At the age of 16 years old, he left Italy to work in Spain, Portugal, Great Britain, and Germany. He returned after 6 years and gained new experience working as a restaurant director in Rome, as well as in some restaurants of Lake Maggiore and Lake Como. Alfredo married Agnese Galli in 1890, whom he had 3 sons with; Amilcare and Mario who died during the First World War, and Umberto who continued the family business. The actual dining room and the rooms above it were added in 1926.
Alfredo died in 1933 and his son Umberto took over the hotel with his wife Eugenia Leoni.
Mario was born in 1933, he studied accounting in Saronno and took a course of “main courante” at the Hotel School in Lausanne. The first garage and the 6 rooms in the middle part of the hotel were added in 1960.
Mario got married to Dolores Frank in 1964. Their son Franco was born in 1965 and daughter Federica in 1970. In 1967 the main part of the hotel was completed with the new wing.
Franco attended the Hotel School of Lausanne from 1985 till 1989 and worked in Zurich, Geneva, London, and New York. Federica after a degree in pharmacy is pursuing a scientific career.
Franco got married to Melania Valle in 2001. In 2010, the Hotel celebrates its first 100 years, and in 2012 Emanuele is born.
