On the southwestern end of Lake Maggiore in Piemonte, this villa rental is located in the lakefront village of Meina, an area that has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. After being passed from one hand to another for centuries, in the 1800's it became a holiday resort of the upper classes from Lombardia and Novara. Today, with about two thousand inhabitants, Meina offers a selection of restaurants, shops, gelateria, a market, and a bus stop within a radius of 70 to 700 meters walking distance. There is also a pizzeria just behind the villa itself. Meina also offers easy accessibility to other areas of the lake, as there is a ferry dock. The train station in Arona, a few kilometers away, offers service to Milan which takes about an hour. Lake Maggiore as a whole offers visitors spectacular gardens, historic villas and castles, and medieval churches. An impressive number of nature parks dot the area, including the enormous Parco Nazionale dell Val Grande. Mountains provide impressive backdrops to the lake scenery, and each little village with its painted houses seems like a little terrace on the water. In the center of the lake, north of Meina, you can visit the enchanting Borromeo Islands, which hold palaces and gardens. In addition to exploring the local sights (by car or boat), you can also participate in many water-based sports, including sailing, water skiing, and canoeing. Milan: 1 hour by train or car Malpensa (airport): 45 minutes by train, 1 hour by car Swiss border: 30 minutes by car Stresa: 10 km Arona (train station): 4 km Bus stop: 5 minutes on foot
