Lake Maggiore VillaHost™

Luisa

(Though Luisa won't tell you this until after a few glasses of wine, she comes from a noble Italian family. She is a descendant of a prominent Renaissance author whose portrait was painted by Raphael and now hangs in the Louvre. Their family palace in Mantua faces the Palazzo Ducale. Luisa is also one of the most down-to-earth people you'll ever meet.)

I've lived all over Italy. From Brescia to Florence, from Venice to Milan. I am a VillaHost for A Season Away in the Italian Lakes region, and now live on an overlook high above Stresa on Lake Maggiore where I can see the three lakes of Como, Maggiore and Orta. If Lake Como is stylish, then Lake Maggiore is relaxed.

I like to spend my free time hiking on the trails all over the lakes region and looking for small interesting places to visit, artisans to meet and trying out new recipes. My greatest pleasure is then showing you some of these undiscovered gems in and around Lake Maggiore and the other lakes and watching your excitement grow along with mine.

The thing about the lakes region is it takes time to get to know it. A Season Away offers you the luxury of time to be able to explore it all over several weeks, from the shopping, culture, opera and wonderful food of Milan to seeing and boating on the lakes themselves. Switzerland is around the corner and so is the ruggedness of the Piedmonte region, with its famous Barolo and Barbaresco wines. If you like hiking, I recommend Mottarone mountain above Stresa (with 7 lake views) and heading to Val Grande National Park looking for mushrooms and resting in the old traditional stone villages of the valleys.

If food is your thing, I'd be delighted show you the world renowned cheese affineur in Arona, the Monferrato wine cellars and the Piedmonte chocolate makers.

I'd love to help you make your dreams come true.