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“First we visit Lake Orta, then Lake Maggiore, and finally, Lake Garda. And in between, the Relais & Châteaux that seem to pay tribute to this gentle and entrancing landscape. This trip in Northern Italy is like no other. Perhaps because it is the most beautiful… I was born in Sorrento in Southern Italy, about 1000 km from the lake region! I was 20 years old when I first came to Lake Orta. I spent a year here before leaving to continue my chef training elsewhere, in Alsace amongst other places. It was only in 1999 that I returned to open, with my wife, the Villa Crespi hotel and restaurant. It was my wife, Cinzia, who really introduced me to the lake and its region. I have found beauty, happiness and a great source of inspiration here. Since then, I have not left this place that fills me with serenity.”
To give you inspiration, Relais & Châteaux presents the Routes du Bonheur: suggestions for travel itineraries that you can fully personalise according to your wishes and the experiences you would like to discover. Our consultants are available to help customise your route and assist you in making reservations at our properties. It is up to you to reserve any recommended activities on-site or nearby that might interest you.
*Total price provided for information only, based on accommodation for two people in a double room for the number of nights per property as indicated on this page, exclusive of recommended activities, properties that cannot be reserved online and restaurants.
Restaurant and hotel on a lake. Just a few steps from Lake Orta, Villa Crespi is a spectacular property built in 1879. The villa’s arabesque architecture, stunning gardens and the hospitality of Chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo and his wife Cinzia make a stay here magical. Antonino’s masterful cuisine is deeply influenced by the places and flavours experienced during his professional journey. His menu is an itinerary from southern to northern Italy, starting with a brochette of scallops and scampi and ending with pigeon and foie gras. From Villa Crespi you can contemplate a magnificent Italy, just 45 minutes away from Milan Malpensa: the medieval village of Orta and the Island of San Giulio, the famous site of Sacro Monte, and the Lake Maggiore.
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Fishing is my passion. In the afternoon, after the lunch sitting, I often go to the lake. Depending on weather and mood, you can catch trout, perch, pike and a few eels or zander. I like to be alone here, although sometimes I take my five-year-old daughter with me. Our house, close to Villa Crespi, is right on the waterfront, and I often fish right from our balcony. What more could you ask for?
A moment of reflection at the Basilica of San Giulio
This is where Nietzsche was rebuffed by the beautiful Salomé, and it was here, on this island, that the great writer was inspired to write Thus Spake Zarathustra. The island of San Giulio has retained its magic. People come to the impressive basilica to sit and reflect in front of the pulpit made of smooth black stone. This building is one of the masterpieces of Romanesque art in Northern Italy. The slightly mystical atmosphere is heightened by the presence of the Carmelite nuns, who still live cloistered on the island.
Restaurant and hotel in the country. The Da Vittorio residence nestles in the gentle hills that separate the bubbling vitality of Milan from the spectacular landscape surrounding the Lombardy lakes: an elegant villa surrounded by extensive grounds offering a perfect oasis of wellness and relaxation. The Cerea brothers, both Chefs, await you in their gourmet restaurant: this is a culinary heaven considered to be a mecca for fish lovers since the 1960s. A procession of delicious shellfish and sublimely original dishes finishing with desserts with firework elements and a cellar with a treasure trove of authentic rare vintages guarantee a memorable experience.
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Lake Maggiore is so big that its colour changes depending on where you are, from jade green in the north to deep blue in the south. I love its shores, wild and peaceful at the same time. The best way to get to grips with it is, of course, by boat. This allows you to discover the amazing Borromean Islands (the Baroque palace which dominates Isola Bella is absolutely magnificent). Many boats set off from Arona and Locarno. An inflatable boat, a ferry or a cruise… the choice is yours!
I was a schoolboy of fourteen when I came here for the first time, and I remember thinking "I would like to live here one day". There are some places that leave an impression on you, and there are some coincidences that aren’t really coincidences. Once here, the atmosphere still seems the same. On the island, time seems to have stood still for several decades, a boon to lovers of nature, peace and quiet, and tradition…
Restaurant and hotel in the country. The Albereta welcomes you to a refined setting, which is marked by good taste: antique-style lounges and terraces with extraordinary vistas of Lake Iseo, between the hills and vineyards of Franciacorta. From the first coffee in the morning to the last glass in the evening, the Albereta reinterprets the bistro tradition in an Italian way, whilst the new restaurant highlights the cuisine of yesteryear. Add to this the magic of the opening ceiling of your room to gaze up at the stars from the comfort of your bed and an exclusive visit to the family cellars at Bellavista and Contadi Castaldi. Finally the Albereta is a place dedicated to health and beauty thanks to its Medical Spa Espace Vitalité Henri Chenot.
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Monte Isola has the air of a mountain emerging from the water. The verdant island of Monte Isola rises almost 600 metres above Lake Iseo, and it is also the largest lake island in Europe. Climbing up to the magnificent Madonna della Ceriola sanctuary reveals an impressive panoramic view of the lake and the Bergamo Alps. Lower down, in the seemingly timeless fishing villages, cats weave their way around the fishing nets laid out to dry and disappear into the shadowy alleyways. Life is beautiful…
The wines of Ca' del Bosco, Erbusco
More than just a vineyard, Ca' del Bosco represents the revival of Italian wine. This young company offers a range of highly refined wines in the heart of Franciacorta, in a landscape of walnut trees, acacias and oaks. The ultra-modern cellars were designed by renowned architects. This is a special place, where, in addition to the vines, you will find superb works of modern art. A visit to the vineyard gives you the chance to see and understand how the great wines and champagnes that you find on our menu are produced.
Hotel and restaurant on a lake. If Romeo and Juliet had enjoyed a happier ending to their story, it is easy to imagine it being played out here. Twenty minutes from Verona, the two lovers would have met secretly on the banks of Lake Garda. They would have strolled along the beach of Villa Fiordaliso, a neoclassical marvel with facades of Siena stone, long rows of lemon trees and a lounge decorated with Venetian stained glass. They would have taken refuge in a romantic room named after a flower: Iris, Mimosa, Orchid, or Magnolia, and would perhaps have lingered in the elegant piano bar in the medieval San Marco Tower which overlooks the private harbour. The rest of the story is yours to write.
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To the very south of Lake Garda, a thin slip of land juts out to the beautiful town of Sirmione. The Romans had already settled at the end of this thin peninsula, to make the most of the beneficial thermal waters. Rediscovered at the end of the 19th Century, the ancient thermal waters are amongst the most famous in the country. The charm of the town and the unique view from the Scaligera fortress also make the body feel light…
Hotel and restaurant in the country. In the hinterlands of Verona, above Lake Garda, a private drive lined with cypress trees leads to Villa Cordevigo. This 17th-century country mansion and chapel sit in a dreamlike setting amid the majestic trees of the park, vineyards and a characterful Italian garden. Charm, art and history, the splendid legacies of the noble families who have lived here over the centuries, await guests. Today, the Delibori and Cristoforetti families preserve the property's beauty and natural tranquillity while also producing fine wines on the surrounding estate. As for the cuisine, chef Giuseppe D'Aquino's creativity and Mediterranean energy has garnered a Michelin star for Oseleta, the restaurant located in a picturesque building at the entrance of the grounds.
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The power of literature is sometimes so strong that it changes our relationship to a town. The romantic nature of Verona is mainly linked to the romance between Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s masterpiece of theatre written in 1597. Lovers still come from the four corners of the world to attach a padlock or kiss on the rebuilt balcony of Juliet’s house in via Cappello. The remains of the young girl can be found in the convent of San Francesco al Corso.
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