Pellegrini Castle, the historic lakeside estate in Stresa once owned by fashion designer Gianfranco Ferré, has returned to the market.
The property - officially recognized as a cultural landmark by Italy's Ministry of Culture for its historical and architectural importance - is now being offered for sale through Lionard Luxury Real Estate (www.lionard.com).
According to Lionard, international attention toward Lake Maggiore has been steadily growing, particularly among buyers seeking a more discreet and private alternative to Italy's more established luxury destinations within the high-end hospitality and real estate sectors.
Overlooking the lake just minutes from the Borromean Islands and the center of Stresa, Villa Castello Pellegrini (www.lionard.com/historical-complex-park-private-beach-lake-magg iore.html) sits within one of the emblematic destinations of Europe's Belle Époque era.
Long frequented by aristocrats, industrialists, and intellectuals, Stresa also inspired Ernest Hemingway, who set part of A Farewell to Arms here.
Ferré - already owner of the neighboring Villa Vignolo - acquired the estate from the Pellegrini Foundation with the intention of transforming it into an elegant relais au lac designed to host the maison's international clientele.
The designer's death in 2007 left the project unfinished.
The property spans more than 1,000 square meters of interior space and includes not only the castle itself, but also a guest house and a rustic cottage, allowing for a flexible arrangement between private hospitality, staff accommodations, and ancillary functions.
Built in the early twentieth century in neo-medieval style, the castle unfolds across three above-ground levels plus a lower ground floor with service areas and wine cellars. The symmetrical structure is distinguished by a central square tower and two corner turrets. Facing the lake, the façade blends neomedieval architectural elements, arched loggias, and details crafted in Baveno marble, echoing the quiet grandeur of Lake Maggiore's historic Belle Époque residences.
Inside, a monumental staircase in white Carrara marble leads to the piano nobile, where the principal reception rooms open toward sweeping lake views.
The estate is surrounded by a terraced park extending across approximately 12,000 square meters and enjoys direct access to the lake through a fully private beach - entirely privately owned and not subject to state concession, an exceptionally rare feature along the shores of Lake Maggiore.
The historic grounds were conceived as a "walking garden" in the romantic tradition of Italy's great lakeside estates: panoramic terraces, stairways, rocaille grottos adorned with mythological statues, water features, and scenic viewpoints create an immersive landscape in constant dialogue with the lake.
Historic vegetation includes cedars, lindens, magnolias, palms, camphor trees, liriodendrons, hydrangeas, azaleas, and camellias.
The asking price for the estate is €5.8 million.
• https://www.lionard.com/ • https://www.lionard.com/historical-complex-park-private-beach-la ke-maggiore.html
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