A fine example of Art Nouveau style, the Terminus Hotel was designed in the first decade of the 1900s and preserves in its name the memory of the function it originally had, that of 'terme' (ie spa) of the nearby Grand Hotel Plinius, built in 1899 on the occasion of the celebrations dedicated to Alessandro Volta. At the end of the subsequent Volta celebrations in 1927, the Plinius ceased operations for a long period due to unsustainable costs, and in 1928 the Terminus, initially called the Hotel Meublé Terme, was opened.
Terminus Hotel now houses an elegant bistro: the Bar delle Terme. Soft lamps, candles and painted walls give the visitor the idea of being in a private club. Ideal for a light lunch, a business meeting or lunch with friends, Bar delle Terme offers refined dishes from the best Italian and local tradition, revisited while remaining faithful to the national gastronomic culture. The menu is distinctly Italian, composed of ingredients that vary with the seasons. In spring, the bistro opens out onto the terrace overlooking the lake and it offers a backdrop of oleander, flowers and flowering jasmine to guests.
In recent times, the hotel has been renovated maintaining the original style and details, such as the railings, cast-iron lamps, stained glass windows, stucco work and decorations on the walls and ceilings, which are clearly visible in the lobby and in the lounges on ground floor. A common feature of many Art Nouveau buildings is the turret, which at the Terminus houses a two-storey suite with a vaulted ceiling and a 360-degree view, sweeping from Duomo cathedral to the lake.
