Description
"Lakeside Historic Villa Apartment in Lago Maggiore with private garden and garage.
The property: In the picturesque village of Belgirate, right next to the stunning shores of Lake Maggiore, this 120 sqm property is part of the historic Villa Fontana, offering a unique opportunity to own a piece of history with modern comforts. The villa, surrounded by a shared English-style park with a lake view and one of the oldest villas in Belgirate, was built by the historic Beretta family in the 18th century and became the venue for prestigious gatherings with illustrious figures, patriots, statesmen, and poets (including Giovanni Verga and Gabriele D'Annunzio). Today the villa, protected by Fine Arts and exempt from the EU Directive on Energy Efficiency 2030, is divided into 12 independent properties and hosts both permanent residents and second-home owners.
The apartment, equipped with autonomous heating and an independent entrance, is accessed through the front garden and the main door leads to a wide living area, consisting of a living room and an adjacent dining room, with great glass windows looking on the garden. Taking an arched doorway, you find yourself in the large kitchen, with a convenient direct access to the garden. Large windows throughout the living spaces allow natural light to flood in, creating an inviting atmosphere.
Moving away from the living room, you reach the sleeping area, consisting of two double rooms and a bathroom. Surrounding the apartment are a garden and backyard for exclusive use that can be directly accessed from all the living spaces and allow to soak up the sun or enjoy an alfresco meal. The apartment is enriched by red brick details and typical stones on the sidewalls; these characteristics give a flavor of authenticity to the whole property. Included in the property are a garage as well as a parking space, conveniently located next to the entrance.
Belgirate and surroundings: Lake maggiore, named by the Romans in ancient times, is known throughout Italy for its botanical gardens and stunning art-deco villas. It is the second largest lake in Italy and its shoreline touches not only the Swiss canton of Ticino but two Italian regions, Piedmont and Lombardy. By the 19th century, it was a popular weekend getaway for wealthy Italian families from the big cities, offering hiking trails, bike paths, water sports and wellness activities both lakeside and in the surrounding wilderness.
On the enchanting shores of Lake Maggiore and 1 hour drive from Milan, Belgirate is a charming lakeside village known for its tranquility, authentic Italian cuisine, and rich history, including the Church of Santa Maria, which dates back to the 12th century and Villa Taranto Botanical Gardens.
With just a 3 minutes drive from the Villa, you can get to Stresa, one of the main tourist city attractions of Piedmont, with its historic center filled with lovely bakeries (have you ever tasted the Stresa’s Margheritine?) and typical restaurants, and with its lively cultural scene year round and its musical events in the summer (called Settimane Musicali). From here, you can take the boats to go and visit the beautiful Borromean Islands, called “Eden of Italy”, and named after their wealthy owners, the Borromeans. The three islands, Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori, were purchased by the family and transformed into baroque botanical masterpieces, with fabulous weekend palaces in Italy's Romantic Age filled with antiques, rare plants and exotic species."