Villa Maria Apartments

Cannobio has kept the charm and character of an Italian Villa. The town has none of the junky tourist shops selling cheap T-shirts, postcards, magnets, and similar stuff. People were friendly and never pushy or rude to tourists. What a magical place. We loved this boutique hotel on the shores of Lago Maggiore. It’s right at the edge of the main promenade, so you can get to it easily without the crowds or noise. The staff were always friendly, helpful, and attentive. Our room was spacious, clean, and relaxing, with a little kitchenette. One night we bought fresh pasta in town and ate right by the water, in our own little paradise. Amazing and enchanting. There seemed to be free parking behind the hotel, but we chose a paid spot in their garage, which has four spaces.

We still talk about our July 2022 stay at Villa Maria. Hearing a friend describe her upcoming trip to the Lake Maggiore region brought back such good memories. Our room was classically beautiful, and breakfast served on a silver tray on the patio overlooking the lake was glorious. The nearby restaurant recommendations were spot on, and we had fantastic dinners. We long to return and hope to do so soon.

We spent three nights here in early June 2025, and I’d definitely recommend it. The hotel is just a few minutes’ walk from the promenade. The terrace overlooking the lake was a lovely extra, especially for an end-of-day aperitif.

Our guests loved being able to jump into the lake from the public access point right outside the hotel, and walking to the Sunday market, one of the area’s best and largest, was another highlight. We stayed here in Cannobio for our wedding weekend, and the charming grounds were perfect for photos. The renovated rooms were clean and romantically decorated. The hotel is by the shores of Lago Maggiore on a partly pedestrian path, with breathtaking lake views and shops and restaurants only a short stroll away. The experience was good overall, though we hoped the hotel would be more accommodating when our international guests requested late checkouts, especially with such a large reservation. That would have made the stay even more enjoyable.