Villa Crespi towers over Lake Orta with its ancient minaret and Middle Eastern charm, ready to thrill us with the three-starred cuisine of chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo and its suites worthy of a fairytale.

The history of Villa Crespi is marked by great loves at first sight. In the late 19th century, it was the love at first sight for the textile entrepreneur Cristoforo Benigno Crespi, who discovered the architecture of Baghdad and Damascus during his travels. He was so captivated by them that he commissioned his summer residence on Lake Orta in a splendid Moorish style in 1879.

One hundred years later, Cinzia Primatesta, while driving with her father, a local hotelier, along the road leading to the lake, fell in love with that romantic residence where, together with chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo, the protagonist of the third love at first sight in our story, opened Villa Crespi in 1999 with the dream of making it a benchmark for Italian hospitality, dedicated to cuisine and good taste.

Love and emotion. This is what I put into my dishes, the secret of Villa Crespi and our lives (Antonino Cannavacciuolo)

Great achievements arrived a few years later, along with a growing appreciation for Antonino’s cuisine, which led to the first Michelin star in 2003, the second in 2006, and the third in 2022, elevating the Villa Crespi Restaurant to the ranks of the world’s finest.

The restaurant, divided into four magnificent rooms, offers a gourmet gastronomic offering of the highest caliber, inspired by the traditions of the chef’s homeland, Campania and the town of Vico Equense, and his adopted homeland, Piedmont.

Villa Crespi, now part of the Relais & Châteaux association, is located in a magical spot on Lake Orta, a 10-minute walk from Orta, one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Italy, near the Sacro Monte and the Island of San Giulio, making it the perfect retreat for discovering the many beauties of the Piedmont lakes.

The 14 suites exude Moorish charm, a riot of precious marble, and refined stucco and molded plaster details that enhance their “The Arabian Nights” allure.

By reservation, it is possible to book the beach club and pool at the sister hotel Laqua by the Lake, just 2 km away, with complimentary shuttle service.

Villa Crespi is today the epitome of Italian genius, primarily Neapolitan creativity and Savoy grandeur.

The Secret

Villa Crespi was originally called Villa Pia because it was dedicated to Cristoforo Benigno Crespi’s wife, Pia Travelli, whose name can still be read on the building’s side gate.

Useful Info

Villa Crespi
Via Fava 18
28016 Orta San Giulio, Novara
info@villacrespi.it
Tel. +39 0322 911902

Tasting menu: from €280
Rooms from: €300 with breakfast, rates subject to change based on seasonality