The Lake Orta is considered the most romantic of the Upper Italian lakes. On its eastern shore – just above the pretty town of Orta – sits La Darbia in an idyllic hillside setting. The holiday residence was created from a traditional rural settlement with a careful eye for context. The architecture reflects the typical elements and materials of local country houses, while remaining modest and setting the stage for the lake with the island of San Giulio and Monte Rosa.
The centrepiece and namesake of the complex is a small tower with mighty stone walls. The 20 individually designed apartments (with two or three rooms) are spread over several buildings, which follow the topography of the hill. The ground floor units have a garden area with a covered pergola, the ones on the first floor have a private terrace. The sober, quiet elegance in soft natural tones is in constant dialogue with the lake. From the (heated) saltwater pool as well as from the restaurant and the peaceful terrace, you can admire Lago d’Orta in its ever-changing light moods.
In the La Cucina restaurant, chef Matteo Monfrinotti delights the senses. His creations reflect the tradition of Piedmont with dedication, many of the ingredients coming from the estate’s own vegetable garden. Amidst tomatoes and aromatic herbs, you can enjoy an aperitif at sunset. The Nebbiolo vineyard enjoys the panorama in company with the guests, and wine lovers will fall in love with La Darbia’s evocative cantina. In other words, La Darbia is a little paradise!
Find out more about the house in our HomeStory!




What to do
Orta and the picturesque monastery island of San Giulio, the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Sacro Monte d'Orta", swimming, water sports, cycling, hiking, golf, excursions to the surrounding towns and villages, the Alessi Museum in Omega, visits to historic villas and palazzi, Val Formazza with the Cascate del Toce waterfall, Val Grande and Val d'Ossola, the Premia thermal baths. The in-house blog provides wonderful suggestions!
Why we like this house
Local architecture in a magnificent setting. The idyllic gardens with pool, restaurant, organic vegetable garden and wine cellar combined with the personal atmosphere make La Darbia a place you won't want to leave any time soon.
This house is great for
Couples, friends and families
Sustainability
8 EV charging stations






















Details
Region | IT – Italy, Piedmont, Novara, Orta San Giulio |
Name | La Darbia |
Scenery | In the middle of a vast landscaped park with spectacular views of Lake Orta |
Number of guests | 20 apartments for 2 to 4 guests |
Completed | 2012, 2022 renovation of the apartments |
Design | STUDIOPRIMATESTA , Armeno (IT) |
Published | The Times (January 2022), Wohn!Design (March/2022), Elle Decor Italia (September 2022), Der Feinschmecker (November/2022), NZZ Bellevue (March 2023), Rouleur Issue 118 (March 2023) |
Architecture | Old & new |
Accomodation | Apartment, B&B, Resort |
Criteria | 1-4 (house/apartment), Apartments combinable, Family, Garden, Hiking, Lake/river, Mountains, Pool, Restaurant, Wine, EV-charging station, Own agriculture |
Availability calendar
The calendar shows the current availability of the accommodation. On days with a white background, the accommodation is still fully available. If an accommodation has more than one rentable unit, days with free capacities are shown with a light grey background. On days with a dark grey background, the accommodation is not available.
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