Villa Crespi

From the moment you see the Villa Crespi, perched on a hillside overlooking Lake Orta, you can’t help chuckling at this elaborate, gingerbread castle that looks straight out of the Arabian Nights. And see it you will, for its minaret with an onion dome ending in a pointed needle stretches up above the trees and is visible from far away. The mansion is quite incredible: the façade is embellished with colorful tiles in fancy designs and further enhanced by elaborately carved stonework and Moorish-style arched windows. Inside, the mood continues with an entry hall that soars many stories high and walls lavishly covered with carved stone. This ambiance of opulence is maintained throughout with gorgeous inlaid wood floors, walls covered with brocade fabric, crystal chandeliers, and ceilings richly adorned by fancy plaster designs. This fairy-tale castle, dating back to 1800s, is the creation of Benigno Crespi, a very wealthy cotton producer who, during his travels to Persia, became fascinated with the romantic palaces he visited. Over the years, poets, kings, and princesses have graced its halls, but now the villa is a deluxe small hotel welcoming paying guests who come to enjoy wonderful food at the 2 Michelin-stars restaurant, sleep in elegant bedrooms, and enjoy the splendid park-like grounds with a view of the lake behind the hotel. The hotel also has a full fitness center.