To steal a peek at George Clooney’s 18th-century retreat in northern Italy, board your seaplane or take your yacht for a lap around Lake Como. From the air or the water, Casa Clooney comes into view amid a profusion of storybook villas and palazzi, all set against the snowcapped Alps—no wonder this idyllic place is a magnet for Hollywood actors along with other members of the global elite. Then, after you’ve had your fill of celebrity voyeurism and architectural nostalgia, you can cross the lake to dock at Il Sereno Lago di Como, a modernist-minded boutique hotel by Patricia Urquiola. The Interior Design Hall of Fame member has made her reputation with a bravura use of color and pattern, however this latest hotel showcases her at her most restrained.
