La Foleia lies in the wooded hills of Piedmont, just an hour’s drive north of Milan, and it is the brainchild of Gemma Richards and Niccolò Rignano. She studied psychology and he studied economics, but shortly after graduating they decided to devote themselves to hospitality, and this rather unusual property, which they bought in 2018, became their first project.
La Foleia is an ensemble of two neoclassical villas, each for up to four guests, which face each other across a natural pond full of pink lotus flowers and water lilies.
Step through the green gate and you enter another world. Sara, the housekeeper, welcomed us with a friendly smile and led us into an octagonal villa, fittingly called Villa Ottagonale: a nest of pale pink walls. Its large window frames the lively pond and the ever-moving nature in which the other villa, Padiglione, is reflected.
Gemma and Niccolò set out on several missions to find a “new” interior, scouring local markets for the perfect pieces and combining them with treasures already in the house: gleaming floors, toile de Jouy upholstery, contemporary lamps, purple velvet, shelves of precious books and neoclassical decorations. The bathroom has original marble and a starry ceiling that glows when the lights go out.
In summer, the patios are the ideal place to enjoy nature. Lounging in armchairs with white and salmon-colored cushions, you take in the beauty of the garden designed by Gianfranco Giustina. The waterfall splashes to the left, the lotus flowers sway, and the forest surrounds everything like a living embrace.
Food
On request, dinner is prepared at La Foleia and served on the terrace by candlelight, with graceful staging. The chef creates each meal by prior arrangement, combining creativity with quality ingredients and favoring local produce. Even breakfast can be tailored: Tell the team your wishes the night before, and the table will be set and ready when you wake up. Gemma has thought through every detail, from the special herbal teas to the organic granola and handmade croissants. Extra style points, of course, for the original silver cutlery.
Wellness
The wellness area sits on a small hill overlooking the pond, with a Finnish sauna and two small heated spring-water pools framed by beautifully arranged stones. The temperature can be adjusted to your liking, up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Thanks to this little gem, La Foleia is also an ideal retreat in the cooler months, when the vines on the terrace turn red.
The Surroundings
La Foleia is in the province of Novara, in a corner of Piedmont a little off the beaten path. Thanks to Gemma and Niccolò’s carefully planned excursions, guests discover the region’s better- and lesser-known wonders: Lake Maggiore (10 minutes), the Borromean Islands (20 minutes) and Lake Orta (20 minutes), but also Ticino, the wineries and historic villas. The star of many of these adventures is an old light-green Land Rover Defender 110, restored especially for excursions. If you like, you can book a picnic in the countryside, a horseback ride or a motorboat trip on Lake Maggiore.
Special
La Foleia is also ideal for weddings, banquets, parties, bachelor and bachelorette parties and family reunions. Enchanting tables can be set in every corner of the property, for example along the wisteria-lined avenue, in the covered halls or in the greenhouse.
Season
Open from March to October.
Prices
Villa Ottagonale from 700 euros per night in low season and from 1,100 euros in high season; Villa Padiglione from 650 euros in low season and from 1,050 euros in high season, including breakfast. Private dinners and experiences are extra.
Booking & Contact
La Foleia
Via Comignago, 23
28010 Revislate (Novara)
Italy
Tel: +39 0322 090418
