Villa Crespi (formerly Villa Pia) is a historic villa located in the town of Orta San Giulio, near Lake Orta. The residence was built in 1879 on the initiative of the entrepreneur Cristoforo Benigno Crespi, a leading member of the Crespi family, operating successfully in the textile industry, who wanted to use it as a summer residence. The villa was named Villa Pia in honour of his wife Pia Travelli. The name can still be read today on the side gate of the building. [2]
The architect Angelo Colla, one of the most prestigious of the time, followed the construction work. The building remained the property of the Crespi family until 1929. Over the years, especially during the 1930s, the villa became the destination of many poets, industrialists and members of the aristocracy up to King Umberto I of Savoy. For a short period, it was also a spiritual residence for religious people of the time. Towards the end of the 1980s it was converted into a hotel. Since 1999 the Villa Crespi has become the realm of the famous chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo from Campania and is at the same time a fairy-tale hotel in Moorish style. a real Alhambra on the lake.
