Guestbook
"Thank you so much for the opportunity to stay in your beautiful ‘palazzo’ these last few days. We arrived back late last night feeling so refreshed and with wonderful memories of our trip to Como! We fell totally in love with Lanzo and the house felt so cozy and welcoming! We fitted so much in to the trip - and became rather expert at ferrying across the lake to visit all the towns. We adored Bellagio but especially liked Varenna for its windy streets and little passages.
We also went to the Villa Balbinello, drove past George Clooney’s house, sipped Aperol Spritz in Bellagio, said "hi" to Nadia at Crystal Pizza (which we loved), had a cocktail at the Villa D'Este (and gulped at the price!), had the best pizza ever in Argegno at Piazetta, dined in Lugano and generally had a heavenly time! The weather was idyllic apart from Monday when it rained all day so we decided to drive right to the north of the lake and ended up... in St Moritz!! We just kept wanting to carry on exploring!
We can’t wait to come to Lanzo again - it really was such fun! Thank you again!"
– Antonia and Jack xxx
We also went to the Villa Balbinello, drove past George Clooney’s house, sipped Aperol Spritz in Bellagio, said "hi" to Nadia at Crystal Pizza (which we loved), had a cocktail at the Villa D'Este (and gulped at the price!), had the best pizza ever in Argegno at Piazetta, dined in Lugano and generally had a heavenly time! The weather was idyllic apart from Monday when it rained all day so we decided to drive right to the north of the lake and ended up... in St Moritz!! We just kept wanting to carry on exploring!
We can’t wait to come to Lanzo again - it really was such fun! Thank you again!"
– Antonia and Jack xxx
“This is just such a wonderful old home, warm, welcoming and a place where you feel embraced by the history and life of the Villa - we arrived and were welcomed by the caretaker Carla (who speaks perfect English!) and from the first moment we felt at home in Lanzo! We ate at Domino Crystal on our first evening, a few steps from the house. Again a warm welcome from Nadia the owner of the restaurant. It was mushroom season and we enjoyed local home made polenta and mushrooms, mouth watering! While we were there we also enjoyed the Michelin Star restaurant and Pizzetta down in Argengo, both great eating experiences."
"The secluded garden has recently been restored, and sitting under the trees by the fountain is a mystical and truly special experience. The home itself is original and almost sacred! Beds are comfortable (all new mattresses we noticed) and the kitchen seems to just draw people into it, like the heart of the home. There is also a summer kitchen off the garden and plenty of room and space throughout the house. It was an honour and a real pleasure to stay in this wonderful and original home in Lanzo….."
"The secluded garden has recently been restored, and sitting under the trees by the fountain is a mystical and truly special experience. The home itself is original and almost sacred! Beds are comfortable (all new mattresses we noticed) and the kitchen seems to just draw people into it, like the heart of the home. There is also a summer kitchen off the garden and plenty of room and space throughout the house. It was an honour and a real pleasure to stay in this wonderful and original home in Lanzo….."
"After an exciting journey up to Lanzo, taking in the breathtaking scenery of Lake Como, we arrived at 10 Via Canevali to the sound of the village church bells. As I stepped into this former convent I felt instantly relaxed, the sweeping staircase on entering the hallway giving us a taste of the flavour to come: Italian antiques; stained glass windows and art painted by the former owner. The marble table in the centre of the kitchen had no doubt seen many best loved recipes, and the kitchen fireplace would offer a cosy retreat in the cooler months. The sitting room and dining room gave us ample space for our family of four to spread, whilst the garden offered a beautiful outside space.
I couldn’t wait to explore the village and stock up on supplies for our stay .There was a bakery selling fresh bread daily on our doorstep, alongside a butcher selling fresh and cured meat, in addition to a huge array of cheeses. We also found a small supermarket with seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables, and many other vital ingredients for making delicious Italian dishes. There was even a gelataria! But who needs to cook with Café Cristal Domino on the doorstep; romantic decor and fabulous food, whilst Monica’s wine bar is a great spot for a glass of Prosecco whilst watching the world go by. We had such a warm welcome that we couldn’t resist returning the next morning for coffee to set us up for our day of sightseeing.
From our must do list we enjoyed a boat trip across Lake Como to Bellagio, “Pearl of the Lake”. From this village we took in great views, characterised by beautiful buildings, stone lanes and cobbled stairways filled with shops famous for silk. We also paid a visit to Villa Balbianello and enjoyed fantastic views of Switzerland from the Balcony of Italy, all of which were only a short drive away. There were also plenty restaurants to choose from further afield. We enjoyed an evening at Grotto dei Platani, where we were offered a table on the terrace with a stunning view over Lake Como, eating gnocchi with truffles, black cod and smoked tuna roe bottargo, followed by our favourite tiramisu.
10 Via Canevali was a perfect location for us a family with teenagers to explore this beautiful area whilst getting a taste of Italian village life. We left knowing that we would be sure to return."
– Tim & Amanda
I couldn’t wait to explore the village and stock up on supplies for our stay .There was a bakery selling fresh bread daily on our doorstep, alongside a butcher selling fresh and cured meat, in addition to a huge array of cheeses. We also found a small supermarket with seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables, and many other vital ingredients for making delicious Italian dishes. There was even a gelataria! But who needs to cook with Café Cristal Domino on the doorstep; romantic decor and fabulous food, whilst Monica’s wine bar is a great spot for a glass of Prosecco whilst watching the world go by. We had such a warm welcome that we couldn’t resist returning the next morning for coffee to set us up for our day of sightseeing.
From our must do list we enjoyed a boat trip across Lake Como to Bellagio, “Pearl of the Lake”. From this village we took in great views, characterised by beautiful buildings, stone lanes and cobbled stairways filled with shops famous for silk. We also paid a visit to Villa Balbianello and enjoyed fantastic views of Switzerland from the Balcony of Italy, all of which were only a short drive away. There were also plenty restaurants to choose from further afield. We enjoyed an evening at Grotto dei Platani, where we were offered a table on the terrace with a stunning view over Lake Como, eating gnocchi with truffles, black cod and smoked tuna roe bottargo, followed by our favourite tiramisu.
10 Via Canevali was a perfect location for us a family with teenagers to explore this beautiful area whilst getting a taste of Italian village life. We left knowing that we would be sure to return."
– Tim & Amanda
"As first time visitors to the Italian Lakes, we were looking for a short break that would introduce us to Lake Como, as well as the surrounding countryside-we were not disappointed. An early morning flight to Milan Malpensa, and a welcoming transfer to their historic town house in Lanzo in the heart of the Intelvi Region, left ample time for a delicious lakeside lunch , followed by a ferry ride and walk around the lovely lakeside town of Bellagio – not bad for a first day and all done in the most beautiful sunshine.
The house itself is delightful, placed right in the centre of Lanzo, which is surrounded by the most beautiful wooded mountains and yet just a 15 minute car ride to Lake Como. After an excellent night’s sleep, it was charming to be woken to the sound of the village bells ringing. Breakfast was preceded by a coffee overlooking the tiny town square and consisted of the baker’s best bread and pastries, the butcher’s cold meats, and the most delicious selection of local cheeses-not much English spoken in Lanzo but the locals were still so friendly and helpful that all this just adds to its appeal.
Feeling suitably relaxed we opted to head out to the "Balconie d'Italie" – quite literally the balcony of Italy which is a stunning walk a few minutes from the village , giving the most amazing views into Switzerland and Lugano. That was followed by a meal at a small hostel ("the Biker's retreat" which was a showcase for local mushroom risotto and utterly delicious). That evening we lit the fire, drank some wine and just relaxed into the comforting warmth that the house seems to offer.
The next day it was time for some more walking, this time to appreciate the location of Lanzo, and the amazing Villas that surround the town – too early for truffles, we tried mushroom foraging, only to be warned off our hard earned harvest by a friendly neighbour who said simply and with affection "some people eat these, but we don’t". Enough said! That evening it was a car ride to the Villa D'Este for cocktails – followed by a lovely lakeside dinner en-route back to Lanzo.
The weekend closed with us enjoying more of Lanzo, wishing we had more time, and vowing to come back in the autumn when the surrounding forests promise to beat New England for their spectacular display. And we have just got to mention the family run Pizzeria Cristale which made the most amazing pizza we had ever tasted! It has to be top of the list for anyone visiting! Thanks to Stephen and Antoinette for such an amazing weekend!"
– David & Vivienne
The house itself is delightful, placed right in the centre of Lanzo, which is surrounded by the most beautiful wooded mountains and yet just a 15 minute car ride to Lake Como. After an excellent night’s sleep, it was charming to be woken to the sound of the village bells ringing. Breakfast was preceded by a coffee overlooking the tiny town square and consisted of the baker’s best bread and pastries, the butcher’s cold meats, and the most delicious selection of local cheeses-not much English spoken in Lanzo but the locals were still so friendly and helpful that all this just adds to its appeal.
Feeling suitably relaxed we opted to head out to the "Balconie d'Italie" – quite literally the balcony of Italy which is a stunning walk a few minutes from the village , giving the most amazing views into Switzerland and Lugano. That was followed by a meal at a small hostel ("the Biker's retreat" which was a showcase for local mushroom risotto and utterly delicious). That evening we lit the fire, drank some wine and just relaxed into the comforting warmth that the house seems to offer.
The next day it was time for some more walking, this time to appreciate the location of Lanzo, and the amazing Villas that surround the town – too early for truffles, we tried mushroom foraging, only to be warned off our hard earned harvest by a friendly neighbour who said simply and with affection "some people eat these, but we don’t". Enough said! That evening it was a car ride to the Villa D'Este for cocktails – followed by a lovely lakeside dinner en-route back to Lanzo.
The weekend closed with us enjoying more of Lanzo, wishing we had more time, and vowing to come back in the autumn when the surrounding forests promise to beat New England for their spectacular display. And we have just got to mention the family run Pizzeria Cristale which made the most amazing pizza we had ever tasted! It has to be top of the list for anyone visiting! Thanks to Stephen and Antoinette for such an amazing weekend!"
– David & Vivienne