Tucked into a Lake Maggiore enclave overlooking the Gulf of Colmegna, Relais Villa Porta is an idyllic place to take in a side of the Italian Lakes region that’s different from buzzy Lake Como during high season. In 1820, it was built as a hunting lodge, and by the end of the century, was transformed into an inn by Leopoldo Casnedi. Over time, the surrounding parkland was further enhanced with rare plants collected by Pietro Porta, its second owner and botanist, as well as regular guests wanting to support his efforts. This ensured the inn would ultimately sit pretty within a 10,000-square-meter park surrounding the main villa, a 19^th-century Liberty-style greenhouse and original Villa Porta mosaic.

Current owner Lara Luz, picking up where previous owner, her father Lothar Luz, left off in 1994, reimagined Villa Porta as an ideal base to savor and explore Lake Maggiore’s shores. She restored the Villa Porta name and concentrated on converging historic preservation with minimalist underpinnings and gradual upgrades appealing to modern international travelers. There are 30 rooms with distinctive shapes, a lake-inspired color scheme and views of the outdoors, including Room 107, prized for its fireplace.

© Elyse Glickman

Royal Suite La Rosa, a private guest house a short distance from the main villa, serves as a bridal suite or site for an ultra-private appreciation of the property’s greenery and lakeshore.

Even as the inn is fully operational, more upgrades were either recently completed or are discreetly in the works. The Limonaia Ballroom, with adjoining Skyline outdoor space and regal Torretta tower with panoramic views, was inaugurated in 2023 to broaden the property’s capabilities as a banquet, wedding and business conference destination. Villa Porta’s Tiffany restaurant is a beloved destination dining spot among the locals for romantic and special occasion dining with its contemporary approach to Italian and continental cuisine integrating curated products from local farms.

© Elyse Glickman

Guests staying at the inn this year can enjoy fresh, house-made items and flawless espresso drinks at breakfast in the Tiffany space, which flows outdoors when the weather permits. The bar features a curated wine list focused on Northern Italian wines and a locally distilled gin crafted exclusively for the hotel. What’s in place now bodes well for a second food outlet projected to open in the near future, which will serve fresh-baked pizzas, sandwiches, salads and other light bites.

© Elyse Glickman

Eight new guestrooms, an expansion of existing indoor and outdoor event space, and a full-service spa are projected to open sometime in 2026 or early 2027. An outdoor swimming pool is also taking shape.

On-property events planned for this summer include live classical music events with wine and dinner elements (such as a Chopin tribute event in May), dance parties with a DJ spinning vintage Italian and international pop, and wine club pairing dinners led by area producers.

Relais Villa Porta

Via Angelo Palazzi 1,
21016 Luino VA, Italy
tel 39 0332 510855