Historical Complex With Park And Private Beach By Lake Maggiore

Situated on the most picturesque stretch of Lake Maggiore, in a high position with unobstructed views of the Borromean Gulf and its historic islands, this early 20th-century historical estate is one of the area’s most iconic properties, offering a unique combination of privacy, prestige and scenic beauty. Designated a cultural heritage site by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, the complex comprises three distinct buildings — the main castle, a two-storey annexe and a detached cottage — covering a total of over 1,000 sqm, set within a terraced park of approximately 12,000 sqm overlooking the lake, complete with a private beach, a garage for three cars and three independent entrances.

In the early 2000s, Gianfranco Ferré — the great architect of Italian fashion, the man who had dressed the world’s most elegant women and headed the Dior fashion house — identified this residence on Lake Maggiore as a project of great personal significance, launching a comprehensive restoration project aimed at transforming it into a high-profile residence capable of integrating architecture, landscape and hospitality.

The designer’s death in 2007 interrupted the process, leaving the property at a stage that required complete restoration; yet, it still retains significant design potential today. Its subsequent designation as a cultural heritage site has consolidated its historical and architectural value, positioning the complex as an opportunity for development.

The architecture of the main building evokes the Neo-castle style, with panoramic turrets, symmetrical volumes and striking details that interact with the lakeside landscape. Symmetrical in layout, it spans over 600 sqm across three above-ground floors and a basement housing service rooms and double cellars. Every level and every window of the turrets offers a different view of the lake. The striking Carrara marble staircase leads to the main floor, where five rooms and two bathrooms open onto the big colonnaded balcony facing the water.

The central square tower and the two circular corner turrets, with exclusive panoramic views of the Verbano area, define an architectural profile of exceptionally evocative power. The monumental balcony, extending across the entire lake-facing façade, is one of the property’s distinctive features, offering a privileged vantage point over the landscape. The ancillary structures, including a 204-sqm annexe on two levels and a 120-sqm rustic cottage, both with independent entrances, expand the property’s potential uses, allowing for a flexible arrangement between guests, staff and ancillary functions.

The historic character of the building is combined with interiors that are currently minimalist, allowing for a contemporary reinterpretation without intrusive decorative constraints: the interiors, free from restrictive ornamentation, offer the buyer exceptional freedom of design for a property of this calibre. The current layout, with numerous rooms and spaces, allows for a flexible reorganisation of the areas to suit residential or hospitality needs.

The park, classified as an environmental conservation area and subject to landscape restrictions, is criss-crossed by natural streams and home to tree species of significant botanical value; the terraces sloping down towards the lake ensure absolute privacy and a direct connection with the water.