Casa Ferrariwas built sometime between 1750 and 1800. Situated right behind the glorious Villa Stampa, where the poet Alessandro Manzoni used to spend his holidays well pampered by my ancestors, the three-storey house has four self contained apartments restored to preserve the architectural features of the area. Mayestic fireplaces, ample use of stones and local woods, a stunning cellar with vaulted brick ceiling, a wide collection of 18th and 19th century furniture in an environment of absolute silence 50 yards from the lake, Casa ferrari has all the features you expect from a journey though time. Lesa is a delightful village around a small cove of Lake Maggiore with tiny alleys, a forgotten scent of logs burning in the fireplace in winter, and several excellent restaurants.
Life in Casa Ferrari follows relaxing rhythms. It’s a perfect place to read and write, and enjoy a glass of Barolo in front of the fireplace, discussing dinner or a trip in the area. Some guests just stay in and paint the views of the lake. It’s a marvellous place for the hunt of perfect ingredients. Grandfather Gin was a fisherman and the house hosts the family that still fishes Lake Maggiore. Upon request we can arrange cooking classes and dinners. All the activities in the area, golf, sailing and hiking, are within 10 kilometres. This is one of the places with too many things to do, but often one is very happy with enjoying the fire in winter, or the fresh cellar in summer.
Practicalities:
Lesa is at the heart of the Lake District
- nearby towns: Stresa and the Borromee Islands are 9 kilometres north. Milan 1 hour. Turin 1 hour 20 mins. Orta and its lake are 20 munutes drive. Lake of Como is 1 hour drive
- watersports and swimming: Lesa has new public docks for swimming and boating, located less than 100 metres from the house;
- tennis: Lesa has a renowned tennis club;
Nearby
- 2 golf courses in less than 5 miles;
- mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, sailing, water-skiing, diving, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, polo, skiing, paragliding.
The Library
Located in the upper floor of the house with view of the lake, it’s 600 sq feet wide is a the same level of the shared winter living and dining room. The whole upper apartment has a separeted entrance and can be rented as a single entity. The room has a superb ceiling made of a series of logs and a private fireplace.
Total beds: 1 king in the room. It’s possible to add another bed in the same room.
Amenities: fireplace, library, TV, DVD and stereo
Nonna Jole
This wide apartment is 700 sq. ft. wide and is located at the ground floor and has a separated entrance for maximum privacy. It can be connected to the summer tavern and cellar to create a complete and independent apartment. Its walls of stone and brick have been partly exposed to reveal the majestic construction. The room, like all the others, has its main features in its spectacular ceiling and walls, and has a collection of practical furniture of the typical simple local design.
Beds: 1 king bed and possibility to add another queen bed in the living room.
Amenities: fireplace, TV, DVD and stereo
Nonno Gin
It’s located at the first floor of the house, is very wide with 600 sq. ft, shares the same features and architecture of the others, boasts a private terrace and two balconies over the garden, and has its own fireplace. It has no private kitchen.
Beds: 1 king bed and possibility to add another queen bed in the living room.
Amenities: fireplace, library, TV, DVD and stereo
The Atlas Room and Kitchen
This wide room can be rented together with the library or provides warmth and atmosphere in the cool winter nights with its immense fireplace where one can literally walk in. Although the architectonical elements and furnture are 18th century, the couches have been refurbished with Kenzo special fabrics. The room is meant to provide a real meeting point for travellers and offers a wide collection of atlases, maps, guides, photos and charts. The Atlas Room has a separated kitchen and dining room that sits 12! The kitchen is fully equipped with 6 fires and 2 ovens, fridge and freezer, dishwasher.
Amenities: library, TV, DVD and stereo
The Cellar and its kitchen
Linked to Nonna Jole by private stairs, the cellar has a classic vaulted ceiling of red bricks and a very constant temperature year round. One area is separated by glass doors and contains the wines. The rest is the summer dining and breakfast room. It’s just THE perfect place to enjoy the unique culinary tradition of the area, fresh in summer and warm in winter. It’s an open space with a complete kitchen. The kitchen is fully equipped with 6 fires and 2 ovens, fridge and freezer, dishwasher.
The garden and the Spa
The nearby house belongs to the owners and the ground floor has bee transformed into a small private spa with a sauna.
The small garden is designed along japanese lines and has a wide stone tub by the deck to cool off after a sauna. Then a barbecue and a dining area.
Suggested combinations
Couples: If you are a couple and like self catering, the combination of The Cellar and Nonna Jole provides a stunning apartment with a private entrance on the ground floor and a charming diningroom and kitchen in the red-brick vaulted cellar. Otherwise the rent of the whole upper floor with The Library and the Atlas Room with its monumental fireplace provides a unique environment with views on the Lake.
Families: the Nonno Gin room on the first floor provides a convenient room for the kids or friends. She has no kitchen but a wide open space with fireplace, TV, and a wide private bathroom.
Transports:
Train: Lesa has a station with frequent trains to Milan, 70 minutes to Porta Garibaldi stations. The station is 10 minutes walk from the house
Bus: the bus stop is 5 minutes from the house. Runs to Stresa, Arona, Malpensa airport and Milan
Airport: the Malpensa airport is 35 minutes drive from Lesa
Car rentals: we arrange car rentals on a weekly basis at low rates
Boat: pleasant ships stop at the nearby town of Belgirate and there are sails for the main towns on the lake and Switzerland
Switzerlans: Lesa in one hour drive from the mountains of Simplon and the Lake resorts of Ascona and Locarno