CASA BIANCA AL LAGO

Description:
The Lake Maggiore lies partly in the Italian regions Piedmonte and Lombardia and the country of Switzerland. The lake is fed by many rivers and river lets like the Ticino, the Toce and the Maggio. The climate is mild, resulting in a luscious flora and therefore, not surprisingly, always attracts many a tourist.

Famous travellers from “other times” wrote about these regions. One of them, the British cosmopolitan Samuel Butler, called Lake Maggiore “the lake of lakes” and the Frenchman Stendhal compared it to the coast of Naples. Lago Verbano, another name for the same lake, offers the visitor a palette of colours: the blue mirror of the water surface, the intense green of the surrounding hills and the darker shades of the mountains. The shores are littered with picturesque villages and little towns with a view on a small group of islands which once belonged to the noble Borromeo family who since the Middle Ages favourably influenced the development of the region and spread their refined culture along both shores. The Borromeo islands still bear witness of this culture and we strongly recommend a visit, in particular to Isola Bella with special, terrace shaped gardens.

On one of the shores of this lake we found an adorable little villa, very quiet and most beautifully situated and suitable for whatever kind of holiday you would wish for. For instance, a honeymoon or a wedding anniversary. But also for two or three friends, a couple or a couple with a child and/or a baby. The villa has a large garden and borders the lake, so please make sure, if you travel with a child that it doesn’t fall in. This accommodation is very popular, also with the Italians, so to avoid disappointments we advise you enquire availability as soon as you have decided.

To reach this lovely holiday home you first have to go through an electronic gate guarding a residential area and then there is another electronic gate to the villa itself. Peace, quiet and protection double guaranteed!

Casa Bianca houses 5 + 1 pers. and belongs, in our opinion, to the “superlatives” as far as beauty and intimacy is concerned. Its architecture is attractive, there is a private landing-stage and a large lawn ending at the lake shore. Roses and pots of flowering shrubs complete the romantic radiation of the house.

Your rest and privacy is absolutely guaranteed. The above mentioned residential area is situated in an exclusive part of the small town of Lesa, the favourite holiday destination of the great Italian statesman Camillo Cavour and also of the author/poet Alessandro Manzoni, who always stated in the Villa Stampa, a neo-classical villa on the piazza in the town centre. The residential area once formed part of the extensive gardens belonging to a palace.

The house has been built in a kind of “Spanish” style, with thick walls, bow-formed windows and painted in white. It has an L-shape, with on the right side the house of the owner, a friendly lady, and on the left side the Casa Bianca. Both houses are completely independent of one another but connected by a kind of small inner court. The owner is, of course, used to having guests staying next to her and always willing to be of help. She knows, however, that privacy can be very important to many a guest so you won’t see her unless you happen to meet.

On the ground floor arched French doors lead from outside into a very large sitting room with sofas, a billiard table at its center, fireplace and TV. On the right there is the dining room and a well-equipped kitchen (dishwasher) opening towards the garden where there is also a covered dining area (gazebo) and a solarium. On the left there is the access tot the sleeping area developing on main level and loft. Down at the lake (near the dock area) there is a corner equipped with beach umbrella, table, chairs and deck chairs.

The sleeping area on the main level exists of a single bedroom (sizes bed 200 x 100) with adjacent bathroom (small shower); the pink marble bath is just a decor. Further on there is a master bedroom with 2 single beds (measures 195 x 90) that can be joined and an en suite bathroom (large shower). This bedroom is accessed both through the foregoing single bedroom and directly from the outside. The windowns of this bedroom are equipped with mosquito nets.
The sleeping area on the loft is as follows: Second main bedroom with a double bed (not divisible, measures 190 x 190); this bedroom overlooks the main level single bedroom (no doors, just a low balustrade) and has an airconditioning unit. Adjacent, there is a smaller, simply furnised single bedroom (appropriate only for children) with a single bed (measures bed 190 x 80). On request possibility to add a baby bed.
Please note: the stairs leading to the loft are narrow making it necessary to carefully watch your steps as you go down. No bathroom available at the loft level, therefore it is necessary to use the bathroom downstairs and the night navigation could be not easy. In addition the loft is not suitable for very tall people as the ceiling is quite low.

Our conclusion: a nice and good furnished house in a residential area. If you choose this house, you can be sure you choose wisely: the positon of the house, directly at the lake is fantastic!

Facilities:
Fenced terrain, entrance via an electronic gate, parking space on the property; garden furniture for meals “al fresco”, large, completely private lawn (distance from the house to the lake: 30 m.); kitchen with oven with 6 burners, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, microwave, coffeemaker, radio, TV-sat. and CD-player. There are 4 bikes, barbecue, and a kayak. Laudryservice on request. Wireless Internet access.

Possibilities for sports/excursions:
Of course, all water sports such as sailing, wind surfing, fishing and swimming. Two golf courses at 30 min. driving distance and another 7 more at about 50 min. by car. You can go for extensive walking tours in the Valle Grande. Tennis court and swimming pool at about 5 min. by car from the house. Worth a visit are Stresa and the Borromeo islands, the Swiss cities Locarno and Bellinzona as well as Cannero, the so-called “Rivièra of the Lake Maggiore”, Arona and the Villa Taranto, with world famous botanical gardens.

Distances: (approx. in kms.)
Stresa 8, Arona 10, airport Milano 45, nearest entrance Autostrada in Carpugnino 10.

Lay-out (165 m²):
Ground floor: Sitting room with billiard table TV satellite, fireplace and large, French windows to the garden, diningroom/kitchen, also with entrance to the garden, single sleep area with small bathroom with shower, 1 room with two beds and en suite bathroom with shower with independent access from the garden.
Upper floor (vide): Sleeping area with double bed, in open connection with the space with the single bed, small single bedroom, suitable for a child.

TIP 1:
Shopping in Milano is expensive; so check the factory-outlets in the surroundings of the city where you can shop “haute couture” for very reasonable prices.

TIP 2:
DANCING IN MILANO
In the city, in the “Sala Venezia” you can have diner and after diner the band starts the music and you can dance! A “back to the past” salon with a nice atmosfeer. Open every day from 19.30 – 01.30 hrs. Price for the menu € 20,00, a beer € 2,00. Address: Via Alvise Cadamosto 2, tel. 02 2043765.