When you fall in love with a part of the world, you want to experience it as much as possible. At the end of our tour my friend and I had planned a few extra days to immerse ourselves in this paradisiacal part of Italy. Its storied lake communities range from elegant to charmingly comfy; I’ve chosen the town that so totally wrapped us in its heart to share with you all. Everything about each day was captivating, and spending time in towns that were so small, but beautifully maintained, helped us imagine that we could live there some day.

Marcote, the subject of today’s post, is so small that you’d miss it if you blinked. And the “main road” running through all these lake communities, is two lanes…one going in one direction, one going in the other. Marcote, Valsolda-Albogasio-Oria, the names conjure up romatic lifestyles and leisurely moments. Of course, the signature, pastel-colored stucco buildings add immeasurably to the pleasure! Who couldn’t feel happy when looking at these.

Since Fogazzaro Roi is magically sited on Lake Lugano, we found ourselves slipping in and out of Italy and its Suisse neighbor to the north throughout those days. This private villa of the former 19th century novelist Antonio Fogazarro is now an intimate “house museum” (feature image). Clearly nestled into the hillside, each descending level brings you closer to the entrance. With details that also recall an earlier period structure on the property, the villa reveals itself as you walk down steps from the long, pebbled drive.

Faux piant work is a signature of so many Italian buildings, of which I never tire. Here at Fogazarro Roi it’s a pretend balustrade under a window on the house’s main wall…above an elegant plaque, made all the more important with its neatly pruned ivy ” frame.”

A cozy villa, not a grand one, with the focus on two levels of pebbled terraces overlooking the water.

Imagine this view! These glacial lakes with the rugged mountains coming right down to the water is what truly distinguishes the Lake District of Northern Italy!

Repeating duplicate pots filled with simple yellow pansies add a slight formal touch.

Another example of faux painting is to be seen over the pots of pansies on the villa’s facade.

So many villas that I’ve visited had one common denomminator that I adore– painted ceilings, in addition to the wall decor. This simple but very effective area is in a small room that leads onto the most beguiling spot for breakfast, or tea in the afternoon. We each agreed we could sit here for hours…

You almost feel as though you are cantilevered over the lake.

An intriguing structure begs the question…”what’s in there?” And it actually is the entrance to a side garden and…

the wisteria-clad pergola. What a perfect close to this post…the pergola with wisteria hanging gracefully, providing the perfect take-away image as we departed Fogazarro Roi.