Villa Cacrusca

We spent a fantastic week at the villa in mid-September with another couple. The large house, peaceful surroundings, and beautiful weather made for a really enjoyable stay. The private pool was lovely, and it was easy to pop inside for something when it got too hot. We could sit for hours on our own beach chair and enjoy the view. There are plenty of cozy restaurants within a 15-minute drive, and the supermarket is less than 15 minutes away by car. Highly recommended. If we get the chance, we’ll definitely come back!

It’s a nice villa in a quiet spot, with a lovely pool and a great view, but our requests and complaints were ignored. We gave our parents a trip to Italy as a gift and booked the villa for them. Unfortunately, it wasn’t clean when they arrived. There were cobwebs everywhere and so many insects that it looked as if it hadn’t been properly cleaned for weeks, only given a quick surface clean. Management said it had been cleaned two days earlier. When we asked for a vacuum and cleaning supplies because we weren’t comfortable with the condition, they only showed us a dustpan and brush. The stair railing came loose at the top when used, which could be dangerous for elderly people. We raised the issue, but they simply removed the railing altogether. There was no salt in the dishwasher, so all the glasses came out cloudy. They tried to tell us the Italian dishwasher tablets already included rinse aid. P.S. There are scorpions around that can get into houses, but they aren’t poisonous. Anyone who is sensitive to scorpions should avoid the place.

This was my third holiday at the wonderful Villa Ca Crusca. I’ve been twice in summer and this time over Christmas. The house sits high on the mountain with a stunning view of Lake Como. It has a well equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and all the necessary appliances, plus a large dining table that seats 12 easily. Upstairs are two living rooms, one with a fireplace for opening a bottle of wine in the evening and another with a TV. The beds are comfortable, and there are three good bathrooms. You can find a restaurant within 15 minutes. Colico has some lovely places to eat, but I especially recommend La Puntina at the bottom of the mountain. For anyone who likes running, turning right from the house leads to a great 5km route over hills. You can also walk to the little white church on the mountain. In summer, canyoning is well worth trying, with mountain slides and jumps of about 15 meters as you go down the river and streams. I’ve driven to Italy once and flown twice, renting a car through Rentalcars. After getting off the plane, I call the rental company and within half an hour I’m driving to the house. It’s a great place for a holiday with friends or family.

We had a wonderful week at this beautiful villa with our group of friends. It’s high in the mountains, so each morning brought a breathtaking view. I got used to brushing my teeth on the small balcony in the sunshine with the mountains in front of me, and missed it when I got home. That setting really felt like an escape from our busy lives in the Netherlands. There were enough spacious bedrooms with private bathrooms for everyone to have some privacy. We watched a movie in the TV room on a rainy afternoon, then enjoyed the living room fireplace in the evenings. We really unwound. I love good food and usually worry about choosing the wrong restaurants abroad, so we called Ernie, the owner, ahead of time. She’s Dutch and has known the area for years. She gave us restaurant recommendations, plus tips about the boat to Bellagio and a shop where you can pour your own wine. We had some lovely dinners in charming, characteristic Italian restaurants in nearby villages, including Sorico, Varenna, and Chiavenna. On other nights, we cooked and ate together downstairs in the eat-in kitchen. There’s a Lidl and Imperial in the village below. On our last evening, we had a delicious meal at restaurant La Putina. I think we were treated extra well because we mentioned we were staying in Cacrusca. It wasn’t swimming season, but we enjoyed a sunny day on the garden sunbeds, which were kept in the garage, and had breakfast outside at the picnic table. Our group had a wonderful winter week here. I imagine it’s even more beautiful in summer, with the pool, sunbathing, flowers, meals outdoors, and swimming in Lake Como. Ca Crusca is definitely going back on our holiday wish list!