The Story

In 1771, on the serene shores of Lake Maggiore, the Bolongaro family — tobacco merchants with visionary hearts — laid the first stone of a legacy that would unfold across centuries. In the gleaming villa that rose here, Anna Maria Bolongaro, fondly remembered as “the saint of Stresa”, wove her generous spirit into every corner, welcoming travelers and weaving stories into the very walls. Her hospitality was more than a gesture: it was an art form, a heartfelt invitation to discover this enchanted landscape.

By the early 1800s, the villa became a haven of ideas and inspiration through the profound friendship between Anna Maria and priest Antonio Rosmini. Within these elegant rooms, some of the era’s greatest minds, including Alessandro Manzoni and Camillo Benso di Cavour, gathered to discuss philosophy, history, and politics — transforming the estate into a crossroads of intellect and culture.

After Rosmini’s passing in 1857, the villa passed through distinguished hands — from the Duchess of Genoa to the renowned Mellerio family of French court goldsmiths — until entrepreneur Ostini restored it in 1940 to its original vocation: welcoming guests. Over the decades, this noble residence absorbed the whispers of eras gone by while remaining steadfast in its role as a place of hospitality.