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Villa Crespi

Orta San Giulio, Italy

4.6/5

430 Reviews

Plan your stay at Villa Crespi

Our 14 rooms, suites and villas

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3 Michelin stars 2025


19th-century Moorish villa
views of Lake Orta
family-run

Just a few steps from Lake Orta, Villa Crespi is a spectacular property built in 1879. The villa’s arabesque architecture, stunning gardens and the hospitality of Chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo and his wife Cinzia make a stay here magical. Antonino’s masterful cuisine is deeply influenced by the places and flavours experienced during his professional journey. His menu is an itinerary from southern to northern Italy, starting with a brochette of scallops and scampi and ending with pigeon and foie gras. From Villa Crespi you can contemplate a magnificent Italy, just 45 minutes away from Milan Malpensa: the medieval village of Orta and the Island of San Giulio, the famous site of Sacro Monte, and the Lake Maggiore.

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Our commitments

In 1879, wealthy cotton merchant Cristoforo Benigno Crespi constructed the villa in authentic Middle-Eastern style with an unusual distinguishing feature: its own minaret inspired by the fascinating architecture of Baghdad.
Even today the smallest details in this beautiful building are inspiring. Inside, the richness of the decorations contrasts with white-coloured accessories, such as the curtains or high-quality Italian linen tablecloths. The gardens are typical of the Great Lakes region of Italy, benefitting from an extraordinarily temperate climate due to the Alps. Throughout the year the temperature is mild, beneficial to the upkeep of the luxurious gardens. At Villa Crespi, horticultural richness can be seen every season, with camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons, jasmine and hydrangeas. The long beds of roses are particularly impressive, and close-up, resemble those found in the gardens of the Vatican.

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Meet your hosts

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Maître de maison

Cinzia Primatesta Cannavacciuolo

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Chef

Antonino Cannavacciuolo

Read stories of the property

2023-05-20

Honoring the Hives

Honey is the taste of the terroir–each jar the story of a season and the flowers that bloomed. On World Bee Day, May 20, 2023, five of our properties reveal their relationships with this liquid gold and their dedication to upholding the integrity of the natural world.

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2021-05-04

Biodiversity for Pollinators

Sarah Wyndham Lewis, professional Honey Sommelier, embarks on a Relais & Chateaux honey trail through 5 beekeeping properties, highlighting their fierce commitment to safeguarding bees and the environment.

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Make a reservation for a group or special event at Villa Crespi

This property welcomes groups or events. 1 Meeting room(s) - Maximum capacity: 120

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Activities, excursions and other attractions during your stay at Villa Crespi

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Orta and The Island of San Giulio

A charming day out, dedicated to visiting the fascinating medieval village of Orta, its villas and cobbled streets, admiring the views of the lake from the street cafés. Take a boat with your own personal guide over to the island where you will walk around the Way of Silence, so called for the closed order of Benedictine nuns living there, and see the amazing frescoes and rare stone pulpit going back almost a thousand years, while hearing of the history of Orta, its traditions and legends.

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Our Unesco sites

« Piedmont and Lombardia have 9 Sacred Mounts, two very close to Villa Crespi. Orta’s Sacro Monte (800 metres from the hotel) traces the most important episodes St Francis’ life in 20 chapels shown in life-sized theatrical scenes, Renaissance masterpieces of remarkable beauty set in the pine wood overlooking the lake and medieval village of Orta San Giulio. The very first and most powerful Sacro Monte is 45 minutes away in Varallo, the New Jerusalem, marking the dramatic events of Jesus’ life and death there ».

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On the Lake’s water

« My kitchens are my life, 24/7, but I dedicate an hour to my love for water whenever I can. Lake Orta is full of fish, and I love fishing, so I take my rod to my favourite place for a little peace and quiet, but my family and some of my staff love the wakeboard and wakesurf opportunities here, in one of Europe’s cleanest lakes and one of the finest in Italy for these sports. We organize these experiences for our guests to enjoy ».

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