In 1860 the construction of the Hotel Grand Bretagne was in progress. The grand opening was in 1873. The luxury hotel had available 170 beds and was glamorously furnished. It offered every at hat time imaginable comfort to the guests. For example, there was a hydropower operated elevator. The technology for this lift was placed in a tower which is to date standing on the promenade.

The Grand Bretagne was the first hotel on Lake Como to have gas lanterns illuminating the large park and the street in front of the building.
At the beginning of the 1930s the hotel opened the Casino Folies du Lac. Since 1949 the Grand Bretagne also housed an internationally renowned hotel school.

The Forgotten Luxury Hotel in Bellagio on Lake Como