Holiday Homes at Lake Orta

News

June 2008. We've put in a new fridge with freezer compartment in Casa Miralago. After much spring rain, the garden of Villa Gelsomina is looking wonderful, with the hydrangeas in full flower, the three climbing jasmine having a wonderful aroma, and the two magnolia grandflora with some magnificent flowers smelling like rather expensive ladies perfume...

May 2008. We organised Lynne and Daniel's wedding in Orta San Giulio (picture on left is the bride outside the Villa Bossi). It was definitiely a case of "sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata", but an excellent time was had by all, with a champagne boat trip around the island, and reception in the wonderful lakeside setting of the Hotel San Rocco.

April-May 2008. We've planted some 15 palms (a local variety) around the grounds of Villa Gelsomina for that exotic look, plus more hydrangeas, and extended the pittosforo hedge above the pool. We've also planted three more climbing jasmines to cover the south wall (behind the BBQ).

February 2008. The new pavement in beautiful red porfido (from the Dolomites) is ready in front of Villa Gelsomina completing the parking area, and we've added good quality chrome corner shower baskets to all the showers in the villa.

January 2008. We've launched the new look home page for our web site, with larger picture and superimposed key links. The page on local information had got so long, that we've split it into a whole new Tell me about... area of the web site, linked prominently from the new look home page. We've split the gallery into four seasons, and added some new winter photos (picture on right) taken on a recent walk.

December 2007. We've put down new wood flooring upstairs in Casa Miralago, renewed the window and door handles with contemporary satin steel designs, and updated the wall fittings in the bathroom to satin steel.

November 2007. We've added a gallery of some favourite photos of Lake Orta.

October 2007. We've planted 200+ bulbs in the grounds of Villa Gelsomina. Book now for a burst of crocuses and daffodils in the Spring! New pavement edging is now in place in front of the villa, to be paved in the Spring.

The cafe tables by the barbecue in Villa Gelsomina July 2007. We've completed the redecoration of Casa Bella, with new oil pictures, new bedside tables in the twin room, and larger TV with video. The new barbecue of Villa Gelsomina is now in use, with cafe-style tables in the barbecue area (picture on left) with its own view of the lake .

The wedding of Lesley and Andrew on 2nd July 2007 June 2007. Three different wedding groups stayed in Villa Gelsomina in June and July. For Lesley and Andrew (picture on right), we organised their wedding on 2nd July, which was held in the Comune of Orta San Giulio, and the Hotel San Rocco.

April 2007. We've been busy planting in Villa Gelsomina, with Japanese Acers and more Azaleas around the villa. The lower terrace is now being made usable, and the bank below the chessboard has been planted with rhododendra, baby palms, and smaller flowers. We've added a calendar to the web site showing what the area has to offer in every month of the year.

February 2007. With several large trees having been cut down in the garden of the neighbouring villa, the view from Villa Gelsomina is now even better, with uninterrupted views from Paradiso of the whole Orta peninsular.

December 2006. We regret to say that Casa Bellavista is no longer available, owing to the sale of the apartment. We are pleased to have been able to offer this great apartment in a historic building for five seasons.

November 2006. We are delighted to offer for the first time for the 2007 season a spacious two bedroom apartment on the west side of Lake Orta, in the wonderful village of Pella. Well situated for shops and restaurants, Casa Fiori is just 100 metres from the lake front where you can stroll in the evenings, or catch a water taxi to Orta San Giulio.

October 2006. Punta Movero and Belvedere have switched to Thursday changeovers. We have had to fell the large alder tree (ontano, "fernet del bosco") in the front garden of Villa Gelsomina, which had died. In its place we have planted a small olive tree (ulivo).

September 2006. In order to focus on our most popular properties, we are no longer marketing Casa Truzzi, Casa Fabrizio, Casa Antonella, or Casa Zeffiro. We've also finally got round to adding the German translation of our home page.

June 2006. We are delighted to report that the two ground floor apartments in Villa Gelsomina, Ciao Sole! and Ciao Italia!, are now in use, with the work on the kitchens, furnishings, and fittings having been undertaken in the Spring and completed slightly ahead of schedule. This therefore completes the building and furnishing of this superb villa. The project has taken nearly five years, from our initial interest in the plot of land in October 2001, through the signing for the land in July 2002 (see below), the main construction phase from October 2003 to June 2005, to the readying for occupancy of the last two apartments in June 2006. We've also done more work this Spring on the grounds - which are beginning to really complement the building - completing the stone footpath around the house, a flight of stone steps down in the garden on the north side, adding a hedge (pittosforo) along the bank above the pool, planting climbing jasmine (rico spernum jasmedoides) on the walls flanking the patios of the ground floor apartments, plus two beautiful camelias, some azaleas, and hydrangeas (ortensia) down the bank on the south wall.

May 2006. We've added Dutch and Danish translations of the LakeOrta.com home page; a German translation will be coming soon.

September 2005. This summer saw two more weddings organised by Lake Orta Weddings: in June, Barbara and Ian (reception at the Hotel San Rocco), and in September Lisa and Warren (reception at the Hotel Villa Crespi).

June 2005. We are delighted to report that the Villa Gelsomina is now ready for occupancy, with the first clients of the three superb new apartments in this great setting giving very positive feedback. The last stages of furnishings and fittings, and preparation of the outside space, have kept us extremely busy, but this work is now done and the property is ready for you our clients to enjoy! The building work, from first dig, to occupancy, has taken just 19 months.

November 2004. We are delighted to add to our offering two new apartments, Casa Fabrizio and Casa Antonella, a little below the summit of the Mottarone, which is the highest mountain between Lakes Orta and Maggiore. This mountain location, at 1300m, further broadens our offering, but keeps to our strategy of ensuring that every apartment has something special: in this case a splendid view of Lake Maggiore, and handy location next to a mountain hotel and at the top of the Cable Car connecting the apartments with Stresa.

October 2004. Work is progressing according to plan on the Villa Gelsomina (see photo) and we are confident that these superb new purpose-built apartments with outstanding lake view will be ready for renting for the 2005 season.

October 2004. We are delighted to offer two new apartments, La Calla and Orchidea, right in the heart of Orta San Giulio, which provide an ideal base for couples or small groups looking to stay in this wonderful village, and complement our existing offering in Orta San Giulio.

September 2004. The summer saw two wonderful weddings organised by Lake Orta Weddings. Melinda and Phil departured from Piazza Motta in a beautiful antique open Landau pulled by two fine Lippizaner horses, and Emma and Jamie took their guests for a champagne boat trip around the Isola San Giulio. Both receptions were held at the Hotel Villa Crespi.

February 2004. We have further developed our web site, using cascading style sheets to provide a more consistent use of fonts and colours, and we have added a site map.

November 2003. We are delighted to report that work has now started on our new project, the Villa Gelsomina, which will provide a superb selection of accommodation, with all facilities, and is expected to be available for the 2005 season. The purpose-built accommodation has outstanding views of Lake Orta, the Island of San Giulio, Monte Rosa, the Madonna del Sasso, and the Torre di Buccione.

September 2003. We are pleased to report the first wedding at Orta San Giulio (Jane and Garry's) organised by our sister site, Lake Orta Weddings, and we look forward to working with more couples in 2004 to help them organise their dream wedding in this superb location.

September 2003. We regret to announce that the Casa Paola will no longer be available, owing to the sale of the property.

June 2003. We are pleased to be able to offer another apartment at Vacciago, the Casa Glicine, offering a wonderful economical base in this superb area.

May 2003. We are delighted to be able to offer four apartments, the Darsena, Punta Movero, Belvedere, and Cinque Terre. These apartments (repectively 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom and 1-bedroom) significantly broaden our portfolio by offering a superb lake-front setting, just walking distance from Orta San Giulio. All have outstanding lake views.

January 2003. We are pleased to be able to offer a newly refurbished apartment, the Casa Bàrtula in Bolzano Novarese, which sleeps 4, which will be available from July 2003.

December 2002. We have focused our portfolio on our most successful apartments, and now no longer market the apartments in the Casa Frey, nor the Casa Monte Mesma.

September 2002. We are pleased to announce that a new two bedroom apartment, the Casa Truzzi, furnished for up to 6 occupants, will be available from Easter 2003.

July 2002. We are delighted to announce that we have recently agreed the purchase of a plot of land, with fantastic lake and island view, for our largest development to date at Lake Orta, the Villa Gelsomina. There are many hurdles to be overcome, but we are hopeful that this development will add some outstanding units to our offering for the summer 2005 season. This development will represent a major investment by Holiday Homes at Lake Orta, backed up by our experience to date with our broad portfolio of properties, which has gives us the confidence to plan truly exceptional quality holiday accommodation for our clients.

June 2002. We are delighted to announce that our newest apartment, the Casa Bellavista, is ready for occupancy, after a week working on the final touches. The Casa Bellavista has been designed specifically for Holiday Homes at Lake Orta, and has been fitted out with entirely new furnishings of contemporary design.