The Painted Window

Like a dream, this classic Italian villa perched high above the waters of Lake Maggiore offers panoramic views of the serene, deep blue lake and the mountains that hug its shoreline. With its towering, historical structure and traditionally luxe interior design, there’s certainly the air of a Henry James or E. M. Forster novel about this home – it’s easy to imagine the stories that might have been written here over the years and the paintings that may have tried to capture the sensational views. After all, there’s nowhere that snags the imagination quite like Italy, and this villa is Italy at its finest – huge, arched French windows and doors frame the lake from nearly every room, while tiled floors, marble fireplaces, and antique furnishings add to the aristocratic feel of this home perched on the hillside. Take your morning espresso for gentle meanderings through the mature garden before heading down to the pool for the rest of the day, which feels nearly tropical with the surrounding palm trees. Still, you can’t mistake the distinct glamour and relaxed pace of Northern Italy, so grab a drink from the poolside fridge and stay put on the lounger. If you’d like to arrange for fridge fills, private chefs, personal training, boat rental or massages, your host can ensure you really are living the 19th-century lifestyle. Or perhaps you’d rather spend the afternoons in the pastel blue living room – it looks like just the place to pen the next grand European novel. After dinner, you might want to try your hand at billiards, in a game room that naturally also looks out onto the lake. At the end of the night, it’s likely that the terrace will still be calling your name for digestifs lengthy chats under the stars.

Home truths:
*The swimming pool is open from mid-May to the end of September
*Please bear in mind that the steps in the garden aren’t lit, so please take caution at night
*The housekeeper lives in a cottage on the property and is available for any questions you may have – they also have a dog, which is worth remembering if you plan to bring your pet (two pets are allowed for a fee of €50 per animal per week)
*If your party is only 8 or 9 people, enquire about renting only the bottom floor of the villa during the off season for a reduced rate