Just when we thought we'd unearthed the most charming home in tranquil Lake Orta, this little gem pops up to say ciao. Tucked away in the romantic hillsides fringing the lakeside, history is everywhere to see inside this home. Exposed beams, cool terracotta floors, shuttered windows, and a wooden balcony encasing it all bring the character. While elsewhere, this place speaks to a more contemporary audience with an effortlessly cool lounge (the canvas butterfly chairs are inspired) and a fully kitted-out kitchen with a coffee machine for obligatory morning expressos.

Upstairs, you'll find two light-filled and airy bedrooms with access to the balcony and a lakeside view you could savour forever. But on hot summer days, it's downstairs in that suntrap terrace where we think you'll be whiling away your days – if you have any downtime, that is. With the captivating medieval village of Orta San Giulio just a twenty-minute walk away, and a Nonna-style bistro and restaurant for an authentic taste of Northern Italian cuisine even closer (a ten-minute amble), we suspect you'll out and about a lot. And when it's time to up the ante with some fun on the water, the lake's lido, Spiaggia Miami, is just a six-minute drive away. Or charter a boat for the day – the home has its own private dock on the lake to set sail from, don't you know.

Home truths:
*This home sleeps five guests with the fifth guest sleeping on a single bed alongside the double bed in the main bedroom - perfect for a small family sharing
*There’s ample public parking on the main road outside the home and a car is recommended
*There are internal steps leading to the bedrooms and family bathroom which may be unsuitable for guests with limited mobility