131 Years of Bignotti Family Hospitality in Sirmione: Casa Scaligeri Boutique Hotel & La Rucola 2.0 Michelin Restaurant

🌍 Also available in: 🇮🇹 Blog Italiano · 🇩🇪 Deutscher Blog

📌 Casa Scaligeri & La Rucola 2.0 at a glance:

• Scaligeri brand active in Sirmione since November 24, 1894

• Bignotti family — 6th generation of hospitality

• Casa Scaligeri: 18 boutique suites at Piazza Castello 2, historic centre

• La Rucola 2.0 (sister property): restaurant with Michelin star in MICHELIN Guide Italy 2026

• #2 of 69 hotels in Sirmione on TripAdvisor

• Combined hotel + gourmet dinner packages available

Sirmione and the Bignotti family: 131 years of unbroken hospitality

In Sirmione, one name has been inseparable from the word "hospitality" for one hundred and thirty-one years: Scaligeri. Not only the great Veronese dynasty that built the Castle overlooking Lake Garda in 1277, but also a much more recent story, still alive and active in the heart of the village. It's the story of the Bignotti family, six generations of hospitality who turned a small late-19th-century café into a constellation of high-level experiences: a charming boutique hotel, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and an unbroken tradition of welcome that continues to evolve without betraying its roots.

In this guide we trace the history, the current properties, and the combined packages the Bignotti family has designed for those seeking a complete experience in Sirmione.

The origins: 1894 and Caffè Scaligeri

It all begins on November 24, 1894. On that date, in Piazza Castello in Sirmione, the Caffè Scaligeri opened its doors: a venue that would soon become the social meeting point of the village, frequented by travellers, intellectuals and locals who would stop for a coffee, a pastry, a conversation overlooking the lake.

The charm of Caffè Scaligeri was not only in its high service quality for the era, but in its location: a few metres from the Scaligero Castle, the symbol of Sirmione, in a square that has been the pulsing heart of the peninsula for centuries. That positioning choice — at the crossroads of history, landscape and everyday life — is the same philosophy the Bignotti family carries forward in its properties today.

Six generations of hospitality

When people talk about a "historic family" in the hospitality world, the term is often abused. In the case of the Bignotti family, six generations of work in the same place, on the same profession, are a verifiable and rare fact.

Each generation has brought its own reading of the times: the opening of the Café in the Habsburg era, consolidation through the twentieth century, adaptation to post-war tourism, the paradigm shift when Lake Garda became an international destination, and today — with Giuseppe Carlo Bignotti at the helm — the evolution toward niche, refined, experiential hospitality.

Six generations also means six times the same lesson learned: Sirmione is not just a destination, it's a personal bond. Those who stay at Bignotti family properties don't only meet qualified staff, they meet a family with the privilege and the responsibility of representing the village to those arriving from outside.

This is one reason why reviews of Casa Scaligeri always speak of warmth, authentic hospitality, feeling at home — words that can sound like clichés but, in this case, reflect operational reality: staff are trained according to family principles, not from a corporate manual.

Casa Scaligeri today: the boutique hotel

Casa Scaligeri is today the main accommodation of the Scaligeri brand in Sirmione. It's located at Piazza Castello 2, just metres from the Scaligero Castle and the lakeshore — simply the best position in the village for those wanting to live the historic centre without commuting.

The historic building has been completely renovated in a contemporary style: clean lines, premium materials, design details. The result: 18 character suites, each designed to offer privacy, comfort and an authentic sense of place.

Among the strengths most appreciated by guests:

• 🏛️ Position: pedestrian zone of the historic centre, Castle 30 seconds away on foot

• 🤝 Personalised service: no chain check-in, personal welcome

• 🌅 Exclusive services: private beach, pet friendly with no surcharge, in-house art gallery, continental breakfast

• 🛥️ Tailored experiences: sunset boat tour, Vespa tour, water e-bike, cooking class, Lugana wine tasting, easy access to the Sirmione Thermal Baths

Casa Scaligeri is today #2 of 69 hotels in Sirmione on TripAdvisor, with a 4-star rating and over 1,500 verified reviews on Booking. A result that, in a destination saturated with historic hotels and new boutique properties, speaks for itself.

La Rucola 2.0: the family's Michelin-starred restaurant

A few steps from Casa Scaligeri, also in central Sirmione, sits La Rucola 2.0: the Bignotti family's restaurant which in 2026 confirms its Michelin star in the MICHELIN Guide Italy, presented in November 2025 at the official ceremony.

La Rucola 2.0 is one of only three Michelin stars in Sirmione (alongside La Speranzina and Tancredi), placing the restaurant among the most significant gastronomic experiences on Lake Garda.

The restaurant experience is centred on:

• 🍽️ Creative cuisine with territorial identity: selected ingredients, modern techniques, strong connection with lake and sea fish

• ✨ Refined ambience: one of the most characteristic alleys of the historic centre, intimate and curated atmosphere

• 🌱 Dedicated vegetable menu: a proposal entirely focused on vegetables, parallel to the traditional menu

• 🍷 Wine list: strong presence of Lugana DOC, the white wine emblem of southern Lake Garda

An important point often confused: Casa Scaligeri and La Rucola 2.0 are two separate properties. Both are in central Sirmione, both belong to the same family, but they don't share the same building. This allows guests to experience two distinct, independent experiences, or to combine them through dedicated packages.

The Scaligeri experience: combined packages

Over the years, the Bignotti family has developed a series of combined packages that allow Casa Scaligeri guests to also enjoy the gastronomic experience at La Rucola 2.0 with dedicated terms. They are particularly appreciated by:

• 💍 Couples on honeymoon or anniversaries: the stay + gourmet dinner package is one of the most requested choices for special occasions

• ✈️ International guests seeking a complete experience: one night in the boutique hotel + dinner at the Michelin-starred restaurant, without separate bookings

• 🥂 Gourmet travellers: those who choose Sirmione also for its density of Michelin stars

Packages typically include coordinated booking, preferential terms at the restaurant for hotel guests, and — for those who wish — the organisation of additional services such as boat tours, spa, lake experiences.

In closing

One hundred thirty-one years of hospitality in Sirmione is not a slogan: it's a journey of six generations of continuous work in the same village, on the same profession. The Bignotti family has turned a small 1894 café into two reference properties — an awarded boutique hotel and a Michelin-starred restaurant — both in the heart of Sirmione, both expressions of the same philosophy: authentic hospitality, uncompromising quality, deep connection with the territory.

If you're seeking a stay in Sirmione that is also an encounter with the village's living history, Casa Scaligeri is the choice for those wanting to feel part of something that has lasted 131 years. Book your stay now and discover the combined package with dinner at La Rucola 2.0.

Frequently asked questions

How long has the Bignotti family run businesses in Sirmione?

Since 1894, when Caffè Scaligeri opened in Piazza Castello. We are now in the sixth generation of hospitality.

Does Casa Scaligeri have an in-house restaurant?

No. Casa Scaligeri does not have an in-house restaurant. However, the Bignotti family also owns La Rucola 2.0, a Michelin-starred restaurant in the MICHELIN Guide Italy 2026, located a short walk away in central Sirmione. Combined packages are available for hotel guests.

Is Casa Scaligeri pet friendly?

Yes. Casa Scaligeri welcomes pets of any size with no surcharge and provides bowls and accessories in the room.

How many suites does Casa Scaligeri have?

18 suites, all in the same historic building at Piazza Castello 2, in the heart of Sirmione's pedestrian centre.

Did La Rucola 2.0 keep the Michelin star in 2026?

Yes. The MICHELIN Guide Italy 2026, officially presented in November 2025, has confirmed La Rucola 2.0's star. It's one of three Michelin-starred restaurants in Sirmione.

Can I book a package that includes both stay and starred dinner?

Yes, combined Casa Scaligeri + La Rucola 2.0 packages are available. Just mention it when booking your stay.

🏆 Awards & Recognition

Casa Scaligeri

• #2 of 69 hotels in Sirmione on TripAdvisor (2026)

• 4/5 star rating

• 1,500+ verified reviews on Booking.com

• Reference boutique hotel of Sirmione's historic centre

La Rucola 2.0 (sister property)

• ⭐ MICHELIN Star — Italy Guide 2026

• One of 3 Michelin-starred restaurants in Sirmione