I asked a child what they like most about Casa Vallate. The answer comes without hesitation: the park, the view, the feeling. Perhaps there is something essential about this place that cannot be explained - you just feel it.
The origins of Casa Vallate date back to the 16th century. For centuries, the estate remained in the possession of a family.
The protected location on the Lombardy shore offered favorable conditions for viticulture and sericulture - two industries that shaped the rural economy and the identity of the estate for centuries. Their traces are still visible in the arrangement of the buildings today.
Casa Vallate is therefore not just a collection of historic buildings, but a whole that has grown over centuries. The villa, filanda, and rustico are closely related to each other. Together, they tell the story of a place where living, agriculture, and craftsmanship were part of life for a long time.
Casa Vallate is not just a single house, but a ready-to-move-in ensemble of three buildings with around 10,000 square meters of park, within walking distance of Lake Maggiore, between Castelveccana and Porto Valtravaglia.
- The Villa - a Lombard courtyard with origins in the 16th century.
- La Filanda - the former silk factory.
- Il Rustico - a special room with an open character.
The restoration of Casa Vallate was a comprehensive project with the highest standards, not only to preserve the historical substance but to make its quality visible again. All details were carefully worked out. Materials, surfaces, and modern technology were precisely coordinated - characterized by historical depth and contemporary living.
La Villa - the historic heart. La Filanda - timeless, elegant. Il Rustico - original and versatile.
The buildings are located in the northeastern part of the estate and open up to the southwest. In front of them, a spacious outdoor area stretches out with a wide view over meadows, valleys, and mountains to Lake Maggiore.
La Villa forms the oldest heart of Casa Vallate. Its protected, U-shaped inner courtyard underlines the character and atmosphere of the historic ensemble.
Antique granite slabs, stone balconies, vaulted rooms, and the vine-covered pergola are just a few of the elements that give the villa its special atmosphere. From the courtyard, you can walk directly under the pergola and into the park behind it.
On approximately 300 square meters of living space, the villa combines spacious communal areas with private retreats. The main apartment includes three bedrooms with their own bathroom, a large kitchen, dining room, living room, and study. On the ground floor, there is a summer kitchen, a music and reading room, two vaulted taverns, and a separate guest or service apartment.
La Filanda, the former silk factory, was converted into a separate residential house and extensively renovated in 2018/19. The original character of the building was preserved.
On approximately 145 square meters over two floors, white-plastered walls, high ceilings, and large windows determine the bright, quiet atmosphere. The architecture is restrained and minimalist - a conscious reduction that focuses on the essentials.
On the upper floor, there are three rooms and a bathroom. On the ground floor, there is a bright living kitchen with access to a private, protected terrace. Next to it are a spacious living area and another bathroom. From the living area, you can walk into the glazed winter garden and further onto the large terrace with a view over the park, the mountains, and the lake.
Il Rustico reminds us of the agricultural past of Casa Vallate and a time when living, self-sufficiency, and craftsmanship were part of the same place.
The historic building was carefully restored in its basic structure. The roof is renewed, the floor is made of traditional chestnut wood, and the essential connections for water, electricity, and sewage are prepared.
The open, original character has been preserved to this day. Il Rustico can be used in different ways - as a studio, workshop, or as a protected place for retreat and leisure.
The park is an essential part of Casa Vallate. It not only surrounds the houses but also belongs to life on the estate.
Figs, grapes, apples, persimmons, pears, and other fruit trees grow alongside hydrangeas and flower meadows. In the mild microclimate, lemons, olives, palms, and capers thrive. A small vineyard and the orchard also remind us of the agricultural history of the place.
The south-facing valley location, old trees, open meadows, and protected, shady areas create places to linger again and again. The view opens up over the valley and the mountains and, at various points, to Lake Maggiore. The park conveys a special sense of peace and expansiveness.
Casa Vallate is located above Caldé on the Lombardy side of Lake Maggiore. The lake is reachable in a few minutes, and at the same time, the estate is quietly and secludedly situated in an environment characterized by large green spaces and loose development.
Caldé and Porto Valtravaglia offer restaurants, shopping opportunities, and everyday supplies. Beaches, small historic ports, and hiking trails are right outside the door. A trip to the Borromean Islands, to Santa Caterina del Sasso, a swim in the evening, or a spontaneous boat trip can become part of everyday life here.
The supra-regional connection is exceptionally good for a country estate. Lugano is about 33 kilometers away, Malpensa airport about 46 kilometers, and Milan about 83 kilometers. Zurich can be reached in about 225 kilometers. The train station in Caldé is just a few minutes away.
Casa Vallate has preserved its character over the centuries and has also arrived in the present. Today, the estate is restored, renewed, and ready to be lived in again.
What it needs is not plans, but people who live in it - who harvest figs in autumn, sit in the courtyard on a summer evening, or look for the view over the valley in the morning.
In the end, perhaps what remains is exactly what was said so simply at the beginning: the park, the view - and this difficult-to-describe feeling.
