< SWITZERLAND | LUGANO: Hotel Splendide Royal

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Built on the site on which Villa Merlina once stood, The Splendide Hotel, as it was originally named, was opened in 1888. Riccardo Fedele Senior, a descendant of a noble family from Bellinzona, and owner of the hotel, decides to enlarge the existing structure and transform it into a luxury building. The façade of the historical building, still visible today, is built in the Neoclassical Lombard style by architect Augusto Guidini.

The hotel is successful and soon becomes the favorite choice of many high end European guests. Through the years, the hotel has the opportunity to host members of the royalty and celebrities as shown by the Libro d'Oro ("Golden Book").

In 1977, the Naldi family acquires the hotel and assigns its management to the young and brilliant Aniello Lauro, who makes the Splendide world famous. The new owners commission the construction of the modern wing to the existing hotel, adding 53 new rooms.

Since the hotel's opening in 1888, the Splendide has hosted many famous guests who have chosen the historic hotel for their stay and as an important meeting place. King Farouk of Egypt, Aga Khan, François Mitterand and Luciano Pavarotti, amongst others, have stayed at the Hotel Splendide Royal, but list of guests goes on and includes other important celebrities.

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