The Grand Hotel Majestic is located in Pallanza, which faces the Island of St. Giovanni, the thirty-year summer residence of Arturo Toscanini. It is a fascinatingly beautiful Belle Epoque hotel distinguished by its incomparable architectural dignity, grand frescoed rooms and extensive lakeside English garden. Its construction became the impetus for the city’s booming tourism in 1870.

The optimal motivating attraction for nobles and the elite to choose to construct their luxurious villas in this region was primarily the agreeable situation amongst the exceptional panoramic peacefulness of the cape complete with surrounding mountains and mild climate.

From many of the hotel’s 99 rooms and 4 suites the dreamlike view of the lake’s serenity, surrounded by the mountains and the captivating beauty of the Borromean Island’s architectural and botanic artistry, can be marveled at. On the Isola Madre and the Isola Bella, just a few minutes away from the hotel by boat, the Borromeo Dynasty buit two luxurious domiciles in the 600’s surrounded by some of the most beautiful gardens of the Lake Maggiore. Of all the gardens in the world, these gardens are surpassed in the beauty only by the magnificent botanical gardens of Villa Taranto housing 20.000 plants species, 1.000 of which had never been cultivated in Italy before. The garden is within walking distance from the Grand Hotel.

Enchanted by the aquamarine panorama of the lake, as seen from the terrace of Majestic, Eleonora Duse had her tailor fashion a dress “…in the same color as the lake”. Among an array of illustrious artists who have been accommodated in the ambience of the Grand Hotel are Grazia Deledda and the composer Claude Debussy. To name a few, the boats of the Stuarts, the Queen of Romania, the monarchs of Italy, the noble families of Germany, Indian Princes and Maharaja were docked here…In short, the personalities symbolizing “bon vivre” of the 800’s have enjoyed the splendor of the hotel.

After some decades of decline, the Grand Hotel Majestic underwent a long restoration period and was returned the dignity of its past. Its rejuvenation brings the true value of its classical style to life and gives the impression of being immersed in an atmosphere of times gone by, all the while offering its guests adequate services with attention focused on today’s comforts.

Upon entering the Grand Hotel Majestic, you are enthralled by the class and elegance of it’s reception hall, clad with original wooden floors, bronze chandeliers and art deco’ lamps designed by Florentine craftsmen.

From here you can take a look up at the rooms on four floors, visible from the interior court with white marble columns. Just a few steps ahead you can take in the panoramic view from the terrace tables in one of the lounge bars.

A succession of elegant and comfortable sitting rooms unwind along the entire façade, giving guests views through the picture windows of the terrace and porches overlooking the lake. At each of the two ends of the building are two large drawing rooms that re-evoke the fabulous ballrooms of the palaces of the past.

The marvelous view can be taken while dining at one of our two restaurants: “Il Rossini” chic and appetizing, and “La Beola” serving local a la carte specialties from the Verbano.
The Hotel has two main function rooms, The Toscanini and The Intra, which are perfect for holding meetings and banquets in a truly unique atmosphere: decorated in period style, the rooms are elegant, stylish and bright, thanks to the wide windows that overlook the porch and the lake and afford a spectacular view.

Come nice weather, one can enjoy sitting on the porch under the arcades in the garden. The recreational program of the Grand Hotel Majestic offers excursions by boat or limousine to enjoy the sun at private beaches or to practice various sports in the vicinity like sailing, golf and horseback riding.

Beauty Farm is available to the hotel guests who would like to take an invigorating and toning swim in the pool, utilize the fitness center, or benefit from a relaxing massage.

The guests at the Grand Hotel Majestic can count on high quality accommodations and facilities, thanks to the recent meticulously carried out renovations and additions, which return an air of a poetic era: the magical beauty and splendor of this elite hotel renders it refined and in harmony with the magnificent Lago Maggiore, and a place where its guests can enjoy the most relaxing and revitalizing vacations.

Abbazia di Santo Spirito was built in 1282 by monks, it was a convent and it maintained its ancient appeal during centuries: internal courtyard has a high tower bell of the close little church in which you can celebrate your religious ceremony. The villa right is in a wonderful Italian style garden with flowers, roses arches embellished by secular trees: the perfect scenario for a country wedding, just few minutes from Lake Maggiore!

Driving across Arona and going up on Piemonte’s side of Lake Maggiore you will reach Stresa, the most important touristy destination of the entire lake. For the ones who want to experience the luxury of ancients villas, Villa Muggia in Stresa is the right address!

First owner was George Von Siemens, after him was the turn of Muggia family and actual owner is important Toso family from Torino. Beautiful rooms inside the villa match perfectly with the wonderful park: scented flowers, magnolias, cone pines, and bronze statues made by Domenico Colanzi, not to forget the stunning fountain!

Rooms and suites furniture is real antique. Some pieces were owned by Napoleon and there are wonderful and precious carpets, pictures, curtains and Murano glass chandeliers. You will also find Venetian mirrors, silvers and crystals and even a 1700 cart! Villa Muggia can be the perfect venue for a wedding inside the charming rooms or even in the wonderful park under a precious marquee with stunning view on the Lake.

Valentina Lombardi is the Italian Lakes Wedding coordinator for Lake Maggiore area. She follows Italian and foreign bridegrooms who wish to celebrate their wedding in Piemonte and Italian Lakes area.
For more information about Weddings at the Abazzia di Santo Spirito – Villa Giannone and Villa Muggia in Stresa please contact us.

All Images © Italian Lakes Wedding and:
Photo 1: Raffaello Mazzoleni
Photo 2: Mauro De Luca
Photo 3: Mauro De Luca
Photo 4: Mauro De Luca

Isola Bella is the most famous of the Borromeo Islands and when you see it today you can hardly imagine it as the tiny fishing village it once was. In 1670 Count Vitaliano Borromeo started the building of a monumental baroque palace, and began landscaping the majestic scenery of the gardens for which the Island became so famous. The original name of the island was Isola San Vittore, but was son changed to the more suitable Isola Isabella, after Carlo’s wife and over the years it was shortened to Isola Bella. Local legend relates that the ladies of Borromeo’s household asked the Count to build on the island so that they would not have to listen to prisoners screaming in the dungeons of his mainland castle.

Today the island is famous above all for the magnificent Palazzo Borromeo and its gardens. A visit to the palace is a journey through the splendors of the past. The stately Borromeo residence contains priceless masterpieces: tapestries, furniture, and paintings by great masters. The Palace itself is full of ornate rooms which remind you of a past full of grand receptions and sumptuous feasts. The most curious part of the Palace are the grottoes; the walls are adorned with a mosaic of shells and pebbles. Don’t miss the splendid views of the Alps in the Medals Room. In 1935 the palace was a location of meeting between Mussolini and British and French diplomats. Unfortunately, the meeting failed in its attempt to scare Germany out of starting World War II.

After visiting the Palace, you exit into the magnificent gardens which are made up of no less than 10 terraces which slope down towards the lake. The stepped terraces remind one of painters’ interpretations of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The entry to the garden is only via the palace: the gardens bloom with every variety of trees and rare flowers which, in their succession of ornate terraces, provide a classic, inimitable example of the celebrated “Italian garden” of that period. As well as the rare and exotic plants which provide the gardens with colors from March to October, there are interesting features such as the open-air theatre and the “Piano della Canfora” which houses a 150 year old laurel tree.

Discover the hidden charm of Italian landscapes! The Isola Bella offer the perfect atmosphere to host your wedding.

Isola Madre is the largest of the Borromeo islands and the most characteristic one, with its atmosphere of silence, meditation and enchantment. Flaubert, in 1845, wrote that ‘Isola Madre is the most sensual place that I have ever seen in the world’.

The Borromeo Islands are a group of three small islands and two islets in the Italian part of Lake Maggiore, located in the western arm of the lake, between Verbania and Baveno to the north and Stresa to the south. Stresa is Lake’s Maggiore’s main resort since 19th century, with many luxury hotels, villas and easy access to the Borromeo Islands.

In 1501 Lancillotto Borromeo, one of the five children of Giovanni III Borromeo and Cleofe Pio di Carpi, introduced the cultivation of citrus fruit to the island, the plants being brought from Liguria. It is known for certain that olives were cultivated here; the produce may have been employed for sacred purposes. In 1501 Lancillotto began the construction of the family residence on the island, which in the 1580s was extended in the renaissance style by Renato I Borromeo. The Palazzo Borromeo was built on the remains of the early church, cemetery and perhaps castle of San Vittore. In 1978 the 16th century palace was opened to the public. The visit is interesting for the reconstruction of the antique interior decoration and for the liveries, dolls and ceramics collection. Exceptional exposition of “Puppet Theaters” from the 18th and 19th Centuries.
Outside the Villa itself stands a magnificent Kashmir Cypress from Tibet, which is more than two hundred years old and is the largest example in Europe.

The Cappella Bianca, the family chapel of 1858, is also noteworthy; by contrast to that of Isola Bella, it contains no tombs or funerary monuments. Isola Madre is particularly famous for its flourishing azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias, for the espaliers of citrons and lemons and for the collection of hibiscus and the Ginkgo Biloba. There is also a garden of exotic plants and flowers where white peacocks, parrots and pheasants flying in total freedom, give the cram of a tropical island. The other end of the Villa has an ornamentally decorated and planted Pavilion, from whence you descend down to the deck for boarding the boat.

If you’re looking for a prestigious destination, the Isola Madre is the perfect frame for a luxuriant wedding!

Italian Lakes district offers to couples a wide range of exclusive venues to realize their wedding. There are villas, castles and ancient residences. Palazzo Penotti Ubertini represents one of the most wanted venues, a unique example in terms of position, style and accessibility.

• Good position
  Palazzo Penotti Ubertini is right into medieval village of Orta San Giulio, in its little paved roads and ancient houses with big doors, loggias and beautiful iron artworks.
  During centuries this little village on Orta lakeshore was the main center of St Julius Riviera. Nowadays it is a famous touristy location.
  Palazzo Penotti Ubertini is on “Salita Della Motta”, one of the most charming and renewed spots of Orta San Giulio. On this road you will find the most important noble houses of XV- XVII centuries: Villa Giani, Villa Margaroni (so called Casa degli Gnomi) with lot of frescos, the huge Palazzo Gemelli and at the top the hill the delicious baroque façade of Santa Maria Assunta church, parish church of Orta San Giulio.
  Thanks to its neighborhood with one of the most beautiful church of Lake District Palazzo Penotti Ubertini is the perfect venue for a wedding.
  If you are thinking of having a catholic celebration this palace represent the ideal choose for you and your guests.
  This way you will avoid uncomfortable transfers from the church to the reception venue.

• Style
  Palazzo Penotti Ubertini is one of the most important villas in Piemonte side of Lake District.
  The palace was built in the first years of 1700 and has a neoclassical façade with two balconies in its main part.
  It has a wide entrance where carts used to go in.
  Just connected to the main entrance you will find an old Austrian piano and ancient artillery, there are the main rooms. Floors and wooden ceilings are wonderful. Fireplaces are stunning, above all the one in white marble in Sala Rosa. Walls are decorated with full-size paintings refiguring Penotti’s Family ancestors and Savoy Royal Family.

  Palazzo Penotti Ubertini is a wedding reception venue rich in elegance and style that offers to couples the possibility to enjoy their big day in an ancient times atmosphere, surrounded by one of the most characteristic landscape in Italy.

• Accessibility
  Even if the palace was built during 1700 it has a high accessibility.
  You can also go into the building by the charming and comfortable (even for elder people) entrance just by the church.
  As far as the parking area is concerned, Palazzo Penotti Ubertini is very close to the new and wide underground parking area of Orta San Giulio.
  We have to remember that car traffic in Orta San Giulio is not admitted.
  You can have access to the village getting a special permission by Town Hall. Thanks to this permission your wedding car could also have access to the church and main entrance of Palazzo Penotti Ubertini.

Palazzo Penotti Ubertini is now available to host wedding receptions in the period between November and June, summer months not included.