Restored 15th Century Palazzo in Italian Medieval Village

We stayed 8 nights in this fabulous house in awesome Vogogna. 3 couples-3 sisters and our spouses. Absolutely loved the house and everything about our time in Italy. We were there in July; temperatures got up to mid 80s during the day; but we were always comfortable with turning on a fan sometimesa in the front room/sunny side of the house. Check out the little plaza area behind the house -- I spent hours sitting at the little table with a glass of wine, a little cheese and fruit, watching my sister paint, talking and maybe reading a little. There is a great walk/hike up the mountain to "old Vogogna" and the old lookout. I did that 3 times for exercise - takes less than an hour. We did a wine tour - the owners hooked us up with an English-speaking guide (Lauren) that would take us on any kind of tour we wanted. We did a wine tour with a good bit of history thrown in; loved it. And the house comes with sort of "guardian" (Nicole) - she was an angel! Sent us to the best places; and had a great time getting to know her. And the restaurant just down at the corner - we took several meals there, as well as a few glasses of wine! You will love the house, the village, the area. Very close to the lake region - we spent a couple days at the lakes. This was a very slow and easy vacation for us --- the perfect spot for that. But if you want to be a tourist, there is a TON of stuff to keep you busy all day every day. The photos on the website here are very accurate --- and we were not disappointed. Our first walk through the house was thrilling - all of our mouths were open; lots of stone, lots of space - and so perfectly old Italy. You will love love love it.

My husband and I want to express our gratitude for allowing us in on one of the best kept secrets of Italy. We used the villa with my two sisters and their husbands. We thoroughly enjoyed our week in your villa and little village of Vogogna. The country was beautiful, the food and wine delicious, and the people warm and accepting (even if you are an Americano and don't speak Italian). A particular treat was the authentic lunch in old Vogogna under the grape arbor. What an unforgettable experience!

If you need air condiontioning, ice cubes and someone to help you bring your luggage up stairs, please, read no further. If, however, you want an authentic experience, this is your place. I came in July with my husband and 2 children, ages 11 & 13 and my in-laws drove down from Germany. We had the best time hanging out in this fabulous and HUGE palazzo. There was plenty of room for everyone. It was clean and well-maintained. Although we ate dinner out most of the time, the kitchen is well equipped for cooking anything. Cindy, the owner, gave excellent recommendations for restaurants and things to do, never a dull moment. Also, there is a B&B next door with a nice and friendly owner, Nicole, who will help you with anything. She was fantastic. My son had a blast having adventures on his own, walking through the windy streets of picturesque Vogona. We went to the breath taking thermal baths at Premiaterme. They are partially indoor and outdoor with serene mountain views. The baths were spotless and relaxing. We spent an entire day visiting Monte Rosa. We saw some of the most exqusite scenery after taking the chair lifts and climbing further through the Alps. Lago Maggiore was very pretty. We took Cindy's recommendation and hired our own boat- very worth it. The added bonus to being in Piedmont, is that there are too many tourists and the prices are reasonable. We never had to wait in line for anything. There were always tables available at restaurants and there was never any traffic! We found this an excellent place to come together and have family time.

We spent a wonderful week in this charming villa and were delighted with the villa, the town and the citizens of Vogogna. Steps from the villa we attended the weekly market in the town center, enjoyed delicious lunches and dinners in the excellent restaurant Vecchio Borgo and explored the medieval town. Above the town we hiked to the medieval fortress castle and its museum, then on up past rushing streams to the medeival stone village and the ancient look out tower.

Vogogna is an easy drive to the beautiful towns and islands of Lago Maggiorre. The wine country of Ghemme and Gattinara are also nearby. Domodossola, with it's ancient and active town square is a short drive away. In fact the area offers so many opportunities for hiking, boating and exploring that we are longing to return to see more.

We found the villa extremely comfortable and the caretaker very friendly and helpful. It is perfectly suited to families with children as well as groups of adventurous friends. The well equipped kitchen makes it fun occasionally to prepare your own meals from provisions found in the shops and markets of the area.

Our group of 6 had a wonderful time.

After spending a week in Florence arriving in Vogogna was a most welcome change of pace. I spent six days at the Villa and loved my time in Vogogna and the surrounding areas. I found it like stepping back in time, but with all the modern conveniences. There were six of us, all friends, staying in the Villa. In the evenings after a long day of sightseeing and exploring the gorgeous countryside we would sit around the fireplace, drink wine, share stories and then find a good place to dine. There were many. Two restaurants that stood out in Vogogna were the Vecchio Borgo, a wonderful Italian dining experience. The other, a pizza place where all the locals hang out. Both were superb in totally different ways. On one of our daily excursions, we took a breathtaking drive into the mountains to a quaint little village where we had Sunday dinner. The setting was a stone cottage where we entered and were seated at picnic type tables. There were no menus and the food was served family style. It was the most interesting variety of delicious Italian cuisine I've ever experienced. We spent the entire afternoon sitting there eating, drinking, laughing and having a wonderful time. We then headed back to Vogogna very happy and very full. It was just one day among the many great adventures I experienced in Vogogna. The Villa is definitely a place I would like to visit again, cosy and comfortable with gorgeous surroundings.