Located in the heart of the historical and very pretty hillside village of Griante on the sought after central western shore, this charming semi-detached property (ID 65) is situated around a very pleasant and open courtyard setting and offers guests spacious internal accommodation in a newly modernised historical townhouse!
The gravel courtyard is reached by a short slope from the road, which then turns into a cobbled passageway which runs below past one side of the property into the heart of the pretty and unspoilt village.
Gates open to allow access for a vehicle to be parked off-road in the courtyard if needed.
On entering the pretty property guests are welcomed by a spacious and modern Open Plan Living and Dining area which features a newly fitted contemporary Kitchen which offers all the desired appliances as well as a long Dining table and a very comfortable and bright Living area with Sofa, Sat TV with DVD player and working fireplace.
If guests wish to dine ‘Alfresco’ there is a very picturesque vine covered Eating area to the side of the sunny courtyard which offers very lovely views and which can be enjoyed.
Stairs lead guests to the first floor which provides very spacious and modern family accommodation. The Master Bedroom offers a King Size bed with access to a wonderful balcony which overlooks the charming courtyard and village.
A second Bedroom with a set of Bunk beds and a separate single Bed is ideal for younger guests and a double sized Sofa bed to the Living area downstairs can accommodate an additional 2 guests if required; making this property ideal for a large family party of up to 5 -7 guests!
The Bathroom has been newly modernised to a high standard with a Power shower and all the desired sanitary-ware.
By special arrangement, we are able to offer our guests access to the fabulous swimming pool at the Lido Di Cadenabbia completely free of charge.The pool is open from mid April until the end of September/early October.
The very pretty resort town of Menaggio is conveniently situated just 10 minute’s drive away and offers a wide selection of local amenities including Supermarkets, Banks, Boutique shops, delicious Gelataria’s, Lido with beach and swimming pools as well as many other welcome conveniences. The very romantic promenade stretches along the lakeshore of the town and feature breathtaking views of the Lake and can be fully enjoyed with a delicious ice cream!
Griante:
Grainte and Cadenabbia are one town, or municipality in the Province of Como which is in the Italian region of Lombardy. It lies on the western shore of the lake and is situated between Menaggio and Tremezzo. Cadenabbia is the lakeside area whilst Grainte is the area rising to the hillside.
For many years Griante has attracted famous people, for example, Villa Ricordo (Villa Margherita) was the location Guiseppe Verdi chose to compose the aria La Traviata, it was also here where Stendhal composed one of his many masterpieces Chartreuse de Parme. Griante was also a popular destination for Royalty, including Nicholas 11 of Russia, Queen Victoria, Kaiser Gulielmo 11 and also Pope Pio X1.
The area is renowned for the wonderful flowers and plants which grow in abundance, due to the sheltered location and is known as the 'Riviera of Azaleas'. Cadenabbia has many restaurants and shops, and also a good ferry service. There is a lovely walk from Griante up to the San Martino church. The views are truly unforgettable, with flowers and butterflies all the way. The path is quite steep in parts and will take about an hour each way, but the views will make it a walk to remember.
The most famous Villa on the Lake, Villa Carlotta, is in Cadenabbia and has many interesting features, especially a great art collection, luxurious rooms and wonderful gardens with a wide variety of plants from all over the world. The little Church of S. Martino sits on the mountainside and although the walk up to it it somewhat precarious, it should be on your list of places to visit as the views are unrivalled.
Lombardy - Lake Como Area:
The Italian Lakes are a little slice of paradise. Elegant ribbons of blue water stretch out ahead, folded into the sun-baked foothills, with a spectacular back drop of the snow-capped Alps.
Lake Como offers hidden treasures just waiting for the visitor to discover them: charming corners forgotten by time, lakeside villages where nothing seems to have changed for centuries.
It is steeped in history with an immense collection of churches, architectural masterpieces and works of art covering the centuries. The lake is situated in a basin surrounded by wooded mountains, and offers an extremely varied landscape, with its' shores featuring a succession of pastures, and woods as well as harsh and impressive rock formations.
All this alongside elegant, lakeside villas with sub-tropical gardens, which provide a haven of peace and tranquillity and chic resorts such as Varenna, Bellagio, Menaggio and Como itself.
Warming, in spriing and graced with natural beauty, the lakes are still a place to draw breath and wonder. Lake Como, oriented north-south, ringed by characterful old villages often wedged onto narrow beaches between rugged cliffs and water. Those classic lake images of flower strewn balconies, Baroque gardens and splendid waterside villas can be found here in abundance. Dotted around and between the lakes are some of Italy's finest art cities, such as Milan, Verona & Bergamo.
The most romantic and picturesque villages on the lake are Santa Maria Rezzonico, Varenna (15 min by ferry) & Bellagio (8 min by ferry), Lenno (visit Villa Balbianello, location for 007's Casino Royale as well as Villa Gaeta, right here in Menaggio) & Laglio (where George Clooney owns Villa Oleandra).
