Sleeps 10. 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom villa on San Giulio island, Lake Orta. Villa Monziani built in 1637 is one of the oldest houses on the Island, lakeside, at water level, with full view of the lake and mainland. On the ground floor there is the garden, kitchen, a small lounge and a bathroom plus a new bedroom with en-suite bathroom. The boathouse is adjacent to the garden with an outdoor hot shower. There is a wooden jetty useful as a sundeck for late afternoon sunbathing and accessible by the local taxi-boats. On 1st floor there is a very large lounge with a fireplace and a 2nd master bedroom, a balcony and an outdoor stone staircase leads to the garden below. On the mezzanine there is the 3rd bedroom with twin beds and an en-suite bathroom. On the 2nd floor there is the 4th bedroom with en-suite bathroom and small lounge area and 5th bedroom with sofabed. Price includes boat and mainland garage. A small apartment on the top floor belongs to my cousins. They are completely independent. They use the back entrance to the house and the central staircase to get to their flat. They might be or might not be there. They are very nice people to get on with and do not intrude.

Born in the Gulf to a British father and Italian mother, I lived my early years as a Bedouin until packed-off to a Jesuit boarding school for breeding in England, spending holidays visiting my old man's latest posting. He covered 21 countries in 30 years for HSBC, then since graduation from King's College London now residing in Milan for over 25 years, working first in outdoor advertising, then design and now as an English consultant for Italian international companies, copy-writing, translating and teaching phonetics. Our villa has been in Italian side of the family since its construction in the 17th century. Villa Monziani is one of the oldest on the island. The villa has been completely refurbished and modernised, respecting its antique character. We care and cherish it and hope our guests will enjoy it and appreciate its uniqueness..

A unique location, voted one of the most characteristic in Italy. The lake-water has also been voted as the second cleanest in Europe. In general the lake is very calm, especially in the evenings and mornings, ideal for touring the lake with our boat and perhaps taking a picnic with you. In the evenings a silence descends that guarantees a deep sleep, perhaps only interrupted by church bells chiming, but you get used to them immediately.