Via G. Fava, 8 - Lago D´Orta 28016 Orta San Giulio − Italy
JP Moser Stayed Here!
Villa Crespi was and is a dream come true, lying on the shores of romantic Lake Orta. Cristoforo Benigno Crespi, a pioneer of the Italian cotton industry, while travelling on business in the Middle East was bewitched by Baghdad and its charms and in 1879 finished his own magnificent Moorish villa surrounded by a park that sloped down to the lake. It had taken him 30 years to complete.
Originally the villa was called Villa Pia, as Mr Crespi dedicated it to his wife, Pia Crespi. The construction work was entrusted to the architect Angelo Colla to whom Benigno Crespi left carte blanche, allowing him to express the very best of himself and his passion for decorative detail while highlighting the middle eastern character Crespi desired.
Over the course of time, a series of owners have held Villa Crespi, and when the Marquis Fracassi of Torre Rossano acquired it in the 1930's, it became an exclusive place for visits by poets, nobles and kings, well-known all over Northern Europe.
Dating back to the late 19th Century, this Moorish style, historic residence has been a private home and over the centuries became an exclusive place of hospitality for poets, nobles and rulers. Its name resonated in some of the most illustrious houses in Northern Europe.
Today, we’re are a 5-star luxury hotel and home to Chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo’s 2-star Michelin restaurant. We’ve created an intimate and exclusive setting characterized by hospitality and taste.
In 2012, Villa Crespi became part of the the Relais et Châteaux family, a symbol of excellence in hospitality and catering and shines on the international hospitality scene.
Cristoforo Benigno Crespi, proprietor of Villa Crespi, in 1879 decided the Moorish style would inspire his “dream” home on Lake Orta. This style includes stuccoes and inlays that remind us of those far-off places which as a cotton merchant he regularly visited during business trips to Baghdad and Asia.
Our housekeeper Liliya takes daily care of these rooms which are furnished in the elegant style of the19th century with Arabesque features in the doors and windows. All the rooms are decorated with gorgeous parquet flooring and period furniture, the bathrooms being in marble.
The Villa Crespi building respects the rules of 19th century architecture where the upper floors were the accommodation for service staff, with slightly smaller rooms compared to those on the lower floors which were for the proprietors and their guests.
Discover our four classic rooms, the only ones in Villa Crespi with a balcony.
There is AISHA, MUNA, NAJAA and YASMIN. Each one features walls covered in antique pink silk, a large double bed and elegant parquet flooring. The marble bathroom has a tub.
The rooms on this floor are the only ones in the villa which have a small terrace with a table and armchairs and a glimpse of the lake.
You will also find a table and chairs in the bedroom, ideal for reading or writing at, for relaxing over a snack or breakfast served in the room.
Please let us know if you prefer two twin beds or if you require a cot for younger guests.
Discover our two cosy deluxe rooms with double canopy bed and views over the mature gardens of the villa.
The 26m2 of each two rooms, named Aidha and Isdihar, features a large double canopy bed with a superb parquet floor. The marble bathroom has a shower and enjoys natural light.
Overlooking the garden, the view is of the mature gardens and the lush countryside surrounding the villa.
The table and chairs are ideal for a relaxing snack or breakfast in your room.
An extra bed or cot can be added, on request, for our younger guests.
Take a look at our Junior Suites, two uniquely harmonious ambiences in royal blue to relax and rest in.
These 30m2 of relaxations and confort, Samar and Leila Suite, has royal blue wall-coverings, is L-shaped with a large double bed and an extra bed. It has a magnificent parquet floor and the marble bathroom has a shower and enjoys natural light.
On crossing the threshold of this suite one enters a small anti-camera from which one accesses the bedroom through the door opposite or the bathroom through the door on the right.
The four windows on two sides of the suite ensure a light and airy interior and a fine view of the gardens.
This suite is ideal for family stays thanks to its shape, the long side of the L being ideal for the positioning of a single bed.
Be enchanted by the bright light of our two Executive Suites affording views of the place that inspired its creator to build Villa Crespi.
These are 38 m2 of elegance and confort with the large double canopy bed and magnificent parquet flooring. The elegant marble bathroom has a large shower.
Facing south, it enjoys a lovely warm natural light from the large windows which enjoys an enchanting lake view and views of the the mature gardens surrounding the villa.
The intricately decorated ceilings, doors and windows are arabesque in character following the style the whole villa was built in.
In the suite, the typically Moorish arches make for an open division between the sleeping area and the sitting area, the latter having a coffee table and armchairs near the windows.
The Amira Suite, on the first floor, and the Nur Suite, on the second floor, are adorned with antique gold-colored silk, a canopied queen-sized bed and magnificent parquet; 47 square meters of pure luxury.
The marble bathroom has a spacious shower for moments of pure relaxation. Located on the south side, the suites are blessed with light, lots of light especially in the afternoon. Enjoy the beautiful lake view and park surrounding the villa from one of the room’s large windows.
Inside the suites, you’ll find a lovely sitting room perfect for a bit of relaxation and reading. Thanks to their plush, lavish size, the suites are ideal for families. Additional beds or cots are available.
Be seduced by our four master suites, the most prestigious thanks to atmosphere, size and comfort.
From 47 to 51 m2, there are 4 differents types of master suites: AMIRA, NUR, RANIA and SHEHERAZADE.
These suites has a large double canopy bed and a magnificent parquet flooring. Each one has a marble bathroom and a large shower, ideal for deep relaxation and re generation.
There's a lounge area in each master suite ideal for moments of relaxation and reading .
Due to the spacious nature of the suite, it is ideal for stays for families and more than two people. It is possible to add an extra bed and cot on request.
Grant your wish for wellbeing that will appeal to the senses
The name of our relaxation area is reminiscent of India, the land in which our superb treatments have their origin.
Chandra as in the moon: all you have to do is close your eyes and you will be able to caress the moonlight as it enters the room.
Deva as in divinity, the divinity that is in each of our guests.
We have chosen this name as it is the expression of the whole philosophy of well-being at Villa Crespi.
A fine range of ayurvedic treatments and massages with the atmosphere and fragrant incense accompany you on an exciting journey of discovery, guided by the professional care of expert masseurs.
It is possible not only to book treatments and massages but also to create your ideal massage formula for recovery of perfect physical and mental balance.
While visiting the lake, The Mediterranean fell in love and bore the alps the gift of its reach flavours.
Antonino Cannvacciuolo, the much awarded Chef Patron of Relais et Châteaux Villa Crespi boats two MIchelin stars and recognition in the most renowned food guides in Italy.
The Chef conveys his feelings and thoughts through his own philosophy of cuisine, representing not only his own professional path but also his experiences of life, his inner journey which from the traditions of his native South (starting from his beloved Naples) took him north to his present day home on the shores of Lake Orta in Piedmont.
Cannavacciuolo, like the perfect conductor of an orchestra, coordinates and leads his team who day by day spread their passion and love through the kitchens and dining rooms of his restaurant, making a visit to Villa Crespi an unforgettably exciting experience.
Inspired by the traditions of his homeland, the Campania, his adoption territory, Piedmont, and the simplicity of the flavors of home, Chef Cannavacciuolo offers an always extraordinary cuisine experience, characterized by the use of excellent raw materials in harmonious fusion bringing the past and present together for an engaging and exciting creative Mediterranean cuisine.
The presentation of his creations is his personal way of expressing his personality and art.
He’ll never his origins; the grueling apprenticeship passed in the kitchen ranks, his determination to grow and constant willingness to learn. In the 1980s, he attended a hotelier trade school which led him on different professional experiences in the kitchens of renowned restaurants in Italy and Europe until the end of the 1990s. Fresh from his accrued experience, the then young Antonino together with his wife Cinzia Primatesta decided to revive the spectacular Villa Crespi.
Constant research and inspiration has led them on new catering and hospitality adventures
Laqua Charme & Boutique in Meta di Sorrento, in honor of his home and for his adopted home, in Novara, there’s the Cannavacciuolo Café & Bistrot and the Cannavacciuolo Bakery as well as the Cannavacciuolo Bistrot in Turin.
His passion for people and quality has given him the chance to become known by the general public in his role as a testimonial for quality brands, as a TV Chef with entertainment programs and talent shows such as Masterchef, Masterchef Celebrity, Cucine da Incubo and ‘O mare mio.
His commitment paid over the years has rewarded him with numerous awards; his first Michelin star in 2003 and his second one in 2006 as well as being part of the most renowned Italian and international gastronomic guides.
“Why has a Neapolitan moved to Lake Orta? I’m here for Love … love for my work and love for my family.”
A. Cannavacciuolo
The Mediterranean, while visiting the lake, fell in love with the Alps and decided to share with them his precious flavors from the South.
Through his cooking philosophy, Antonino Cannavacciuolo expresses not only his career but also moments from his life, a continuous journey of discovery from the traditions of Southern Italy, in particular Naples his cornerstone, to the shores of Lake Orta in Piedmont, where he now lives with his wife Cinzia and their children.
His cooking philosophy brings these two territories together, Piedmont and Campania. He blends together the ingredients, from the cheeses and meats of Piedmont with the pasta and fish of the Mediterranean into an innovative and radiant cuisine.
Today, Antonino Cannavacciuolo is the Chef Patron of the 2-star Michelin restaurant at Villa Crespi and is supported by a young kitchen brigade who have the same daily passion and constant desire to follow in his footsteps. With the same attention and passion paid on each guests, this care can also been seen in the services provided by the Restaurant Manager Massimo Raugi. This dedication can be felt within the restaurant’s three rooms, out on the enchanting veranda with its striking view of the park as well as in the contemporary lounge bar.
Please fill this form for individuals or for groups and you shall receive an answer written by a live person at Villa Crespi. This is the only way you can know exactly what room types are available for the dates you want, and the best possible rate, because you are dealing directly with the hotel.
Bear in mind that websites set up to give an automatic answer, work with allocated quotas given by the hotel, therefore when it appears there are no rooms available for the date you want, this is not necessarily true, because they never allocate ALL the rooms to third parties.
Hotel: Villa Crespi
Address: Via G. Fava, 8 - Lago D´Orta 28016 Orta San Giulio
Region: Piemonte
Country: Italy
Official website: http://www.villacrespi.it
Telephone: +39 0322 911902
Fax: +39 0322 911919
Hotel email: info@villacrespi.it
Check out the route to Relais & Chateaux Villa Crespi, a corner of paradise made even more idylliac by Antonino Cannvacciuolo's two Michelin starred cuisine.
Just 45 minutes drive from Milan’s Malpensa airport, an hour from downtown Milan and 90 minutes from Turin’s city centre, Villa Crespi offers great opportunities for sightseeing and more.
The motorways connecting Lake, cities and coast are: l'A8 (Milano-Laghi), l'A26 towards the Liguria coast and the A4 (Milano-Torino).
- From the Simplon: Domodossola, Gravellona Toce, Omegna, Orta San Giulio.
- From Saint Gotthard Pass: Locarno (CH), Verbania, Gravellona Toce, Omegna, Orta San Giulio.
- From Milan: Autostrada A26 exit at Arona, follow for Gozzano, Orta San Giulio.
- From Genoa: Autostrada A26 exit at Borgomanero, follow for Gozzano, Orta San Giulio.
But some arrive by air at Milano Malpensa, Milano Linate or Bergamo Orio al Serio, and then hire a car to get to us. We can also organize a private transfer for you.
If you prefer the train, the station of Orta Miasino can be reached from Milan or Turin, changing train at either Novara or Arona.
You can also ask us to get you permission to land with your helicopter a short distance from Villa Crespi, we will come and pick you up from your landing place.