Guest User
July 17, 2025
Nestled on the picturesque shores of Lake Como, the Grand Hotel Victoria is a stunning five-star Hotel that offers an exceptional blend of timeless elegance and modern luxury. Surrounded by a picturesque mountain range, the hotel is a late 19th-century neoclassical property that celebrates Italian arts and a glorious Italian culture. Just a scenic couple of hours drive from Milan, this magnificent hotel is the perfect destination for those seeking relaxation, fine dining, and world-class hospitality. It was also my chosen venue to propose to my partner, as we have always loved Italy and spent many romantic getaways exploring this wonderful country. I had to plan secretly and then had to wait a few months as the hotel recently underwent an extensive renovation. Rooms and suites are now adorned with stunning contemporary furnishings, with large windows that make everywhere full of natural light with stunning views of the surrounding scenery. A select number of the suites feature lovely French doors that open out onto a private balcony quite literally overlooking Lake Como. The rooms are spacious and immaculate, with large beds wrapped in crisp white linen, creating a serene and luxurious feeling. After a relaxing night’s sleep, in probably one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept on, you begin your day with a sumptuous breakfast served on the sun-kissed terrace, in good weather, where the alfresco dining offers yet more panoramic lake views. We spent the first day sightseeing, eating gelato, that’s Italian for ice cream in case you didn’t know, listening to local musicians and taking in the eclectic atmosphere that makes the beautiful little town of Maggiore so special. That evening we were booked into the award-winning restaurant, where I can honestly say, every dish was a culinary masterpiece. The restaurant showcases the very best of Italian as well as international cuisine. After the meal, which was simply incredible, we adjourned to the hotel garden to relax and enjoy our drinks. It was here I had planned, with the help of the amazing staff, to go down on one knee and ask my partner to marry me. The scene was set, the piano player in the background started to play the Lionel Richie song, ‘Stuck on You’ and as if by magic the restaurant manager appeared with a silver tray. On the tray were two fortune cookies, which I had secretly had made a few months ago. The manager handed us the tray and offered us a cookie each. In the time it took my partner to break the cookie and pull out the piece of paper with the fortune written on it, I had gone down on one knee and had the ring ready. She read the fortune, which said ‘Will you marry me’ and she literally froze. I had the cookies made in China with both containing the same words just in case I broke or lost one of them. Earlier in the day, with the help of the staff, we had pre-arranged everything. After what seemed like an eternity and a prompt from me to let her know my leg was goin