Gian Carlo and Matteo Primatesta, two architects who happen to be siblings, have ventured into unknown territory by transforming an abandoned rural settlement on Piedmont’s Lake Orta into a sophisticated holiday hideaway that reflects quiet luxury and ltalian Dolce Vita at its finest. Their secret to success? Being self-taught hoteliers with an eye for silent aesthetics.

Just an hour north of Milan, not far from the Swiss border, the narrow, barely 13 kmlong Lake Orta shimmers in the protected embrace of Monte Rosa. The secondhighest peak of the Alps rises 4,634 metres into the sky, framed by the contrasting landscape of Piedmont and its many cultural treasures.

The Belle Époque gave Lago d’Orta and its picturesque lakeside towns eclectic buildings and pretty promenades. Lord Byron, Nietzsche, and Balzac are some of the many intellectuals and artists who were inspired by the lake’s siren-like beauty at the turn of the century – and the mood of those times still lingers in the air.

While the tourist crowds in Northern ltaly flock to Lake Maggiore and spotlights shine on glamorous Lake Como, Lake Orta remains a relatively unknown treasure to most of the world.

On its eastern shore, just above the historical centre of Orta San Giulio, the elegant hamlet La Darbia is quietly tucked away. The building is surrounded by a lush, Mediterranean park designed by landscape architect Anna Regge, as well as lovingly cultivated Nebbiolo vineyards. With a breathtaking view of the shimmering lake and peaks of Monte Rosa, the holiday hideaway redefines the connotation of luxury with soulful aesthetics and truly empathetic hospitality.

Becoming hoteliers was a whole new experience tor the founders of Studio Primatesta, but it turned out that this was exactly what makes « La Darbia » the place to be to connoisseurs in search of beauty in design and depth in detail.

La Darbia’s restaurant, « La Cucina », the idyllic terrace, and the cocktail bar amidst the organic vegetable garden have become a jealously kept secret tor discerned epicureans – from Milan to Hamburg, from New York to Helsinki. Chef Matteo Monfrinotti shares the property’s connection to the region and emphasizes the culinary identity of Piedmont. Regional ingredients, genuine dishes, gourmet level – that’s what « La Cucina » is all about.