Villa Branca Lake Maggiore

Baveno is a neighboring village to the north of Stresa on the western shore of Lake Maggiore. There are several historic villas in the community. One of the largest and most impressive properties is located above Viale della Vittoria; the construction of Villa Branca - also called Villa Henfrey-Branca - was commissioned in 1870 by the engineer Carlo Henfrey, a red brick building in eclectic style with predominantly neo-Gothic forms. The facade of the sea side is flanked by two square corner towers. On the back side there is a high tower with a steeply pitched tent roof.

In 2007 there was a momentous fire, during which the entire central part had to be destroyed and rebuilt. Today the villa, which is not open to the public, has been completely restored in a modified form. Among other things, an elevator was installed and the entrance, which was originally on the lake side (seen in the picture), was closed and moved to the back.

The property also includes a large park with two chapels, a caretaker's house, a pool and, as is usual for luxurious residences on Lake Maggiore or Lake Como: a private boat dock.

Prominent guests of Villa Branca in the second half of the 19th century: Emperor Frederick III and Queen Victoria of England.