Casa Mariaclara

Casa Mariaclara is named after my grandmothers, who both used to live in this house tending the garden and giving lots of love to me and their two cats Wendy and Gianna. After years in Australia I came back and with my parents brought the house back to its original splendour, and now we want to share it with the world. Casa Mariaclara is a 2-minute walk away from the beaches of Lake Orta, and is surrounded by a huge garden where my family and I grow fruit, vegetables, aromatic herbs and flowers. Casa Mariaclara was designed with the idea of re-creating a traditional local house with the addition of a few quirks and all the comforts of a modern house. The bathroom has been recently re-done and is spacious and efficient enough to cater for a big family. The bedrooms have been furnished with cherry-wood furniture that was made by my grandmother's grandfather in the late 1920's. We spent a great deal of time restoring them and making them shine as well as adapting them to fit modern support and mattresses. The kitchen is slightly older in make, but has everything you need to prepare a feast, and the dining/living room has been fitted with a very easy to use, no-fuss fireplace that will be perfect for the occasional cool rainy evening. As a guest of Casa Mariaclara, you have access to the main floor of the house and the beautiful terrace overlooking the garden and the neighbourhood. You will be provided with keys for the front gate and the main door. You will also have a portion of the garden completely to yourself, and shared access in the rest of the garden. Attic and basement are currently being used by my parents to store gardening items. Should you wish to store bulky items inside the house, please let us know at the time of booking and we'll make sure to make adequate space for them in the basement. We live in a town not too far from Pettenasco called Armeno, and we guarantee we'll always be there in case any kind of help is needed. In summer my parents will be spending a bit of time tending the garden at casa Mariaclara, so help will always be at hand should you need further instructions on how to use house appliances, or if you need directions to a particular place to visit, or if you need assistance managing an emergency. The location is perfect for a holiday or a short weekend away. A mere 2-minute walk from the beach, and 5 minutes from the town's supermarket which is always stocked with local products such as cheese, cured meats and of course wines! The house is immersed in a huge garden which in summer is full of aromatic herbs, flowers and occasionally fruit and vegetables. The best way of getting around Lake Orta and Maggiore is by car, however if you'd like to visit nearby cities such as Milan or Turin, you can take a train from Pettenasco's train station which is a 10-minute walk away from Casa Mariaclara. It takes around 90 minutes to get to Milan and 120 minutes to get to Turin (always changing train in Novara) making it very easy to organise a 1 or 2 day trip in these two marvellous cities. Bikes are also a really good way of getting around, and making a full loop of the lake (magnificent views!) is a challenge enjoyed by tourists and locals alike. Otherwise, the portion of road that goes from Omegna to Orta is completely flat and will suit those who just feel like having a leisurely ride. There is another smaller house on the property currently being rented out to a lovely couple who has been living there for a few years.