La Foleia — THE WORLD FROM A WINDOW

How did you discover La Foleia and how did it all start?

The story behind La Foleia started about two years ago when we found the property through a friend of Nico’s family who knew the previous owners. Although we came on a cold, grey day in January, the atmosphere was so magical that we felt transported to another world and we immediately started imagining the many ways we could preserve and develop the amazing potential of this unique location. We were so mesmerized by it all that we decided to set out on this journey pretty much on the spot! And the responses we’re getting at the moment have gone above and beyond our expectations, which of course is very rewarding.

What did you and Niccolò do before focusing on this project?

Nico and I met just after graduating from university, Nico in economics and I in psychology, but we both knew that we wanted to be able to travel and at the same time get hands-on experience of the hospitality and tourism sectors and that one day we would want to do something entrepreneurial. After various experiences in Italy and a year working as chefs in Australia, travelling on foot, by bike and train for 3 months through Southeast Asia, we decided to move back to Milan to bring all that we had learned back to our hometown. We started out simple; renovating, furnishing and managing three 1- and 2-bedroom apartments, all with special characteristics and charm. We also set up a 500m2 vegetable patch just outside Milan in the meantime, as we really missed nature and wanted to start putting the farm-to-table concept into practice and to share the benefits - as well as our fresh, natural produce, of course - with our family and friends. This helped us tune in to a slow way of living and thinking, in both the hospitality and food sectors, which we knew was the right way for us and would help us in future projects.

You seem a very creative and go-getting couple but working together isn't always easy. How did you bring this project to life together?

We met almost six years ago and we immediately had a strong connection, based on our love and passion for food, travel and hospitality. It all happened in a completely natural way, we feel really lucky to have fallen for each other at exactly the right time (having both just graduated from university) and in exactly the right way (wanting the same things, too). We both wanted to be entrepreneurs but to be able to bring something special and unique back to our country after our experiences, so travelling and trying out different jobs during the first three years of our relationship really helped us define what we wanted out of a business as well as out of each other. Then the rest kind of fell into place. First came the small apartments in Milan, then the vegetable patch, then la Foleia, then...

But don’t get me wrong, it’s not all easy! We don’t have standard work hours so we can go weeks or months without having a break; we need to have a really flexible approach to time management and when we work on-site – which is almost always – we must be able to adapt to different living conditions too. Of course, working and living with your partner is pretty intense, but I don’t think we’d want it any other way… not for now at least!! We feed off each other’s energy, when one is weak the other is strong, we both need to be hands-on but have different areas of expertise that compensate each other, so we’re learning and growing together every day. It’s the most beautiful, crazy, scary, exhilarating adventure I have ever embarked on, and Nico’s the best partner for the ride.

What does slow living mean to you?

Slow-living is the new authenticity to me; learning to live with nature’s cycles, taking time to take care of yourself and others, filling your life with meaningful, sustainable experiences, respecting traditions and cultures, keeping an open mind and heart.

What experiences can one expect in the area?

This is an incredibly rich area for excursions and experiences, with its fabled breathtaking scenery and historic sites, not to mention fantastic local cuisine and amazing wines. We’re about 5 minutes away from Lake Maggiore, so you can take boat tours around the lake, visit the stunning Borromeo Islands or just to have an idle day on the water, as well as visit the picturesque Stresa or the many historical villas open to the public, like Parco Pallavicino and Villa Taranto, with their incredible world-renowned botanical gardens. We’re also near Lago d’Orta, another gorgeous lake with the charming town of Orta San Giulio with its UNESCO world heritage site of Sacro Monte. And then there are treks and off-road trails in the mountainous Val Sesia area, wine tastings in the nearby vineyards of Gattinara and Ghemme… there are tons of local experiences we can help our guests discover, and of course, we handle any bookings too.

The property also has a heritage Land Rover Defender and a lovely wooden private boat on the lake, so we can offer our guests a truly authentic way to experience this beautiful countryside and culture.

What are your dreams for La Foleia's future?

Our hope is that La Foleia will become an exclusive destination for anyone who wishes to relax in a unique, private setting and experience the best of the amazing region of Piedmont, with carefully tailored services, made-to-measure adventures, and a rare botanical garden, curated by our special gardener, nominated as the world’s best by the Royal Horticultural Society in 2014.

La Foleia is part architecture and part botanic garden, what's your relationship with flowers?

I have a very strong connection to nature, plants, flowers and trees. This may seem a bit odd, as I’ve always lived in a city. I think it must partly be down to my English heritage on my father’s side. One of my most vivid childhood memories is of my father doing gardening at our country house every single weekend; no matter the time or weather, there he was, knee-deep in soil, trying out different plant or flower arrangements. He really feels the need to feel a material, physical connection to nature and so do I. My most recent obsession is Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, that I learnt with a master in Melbourne.

What's your favourite moment of the day to enjoy La Foleia?

I think my all-time favourite moment must be during spring and summer mornings when I can get up and have my (much needed) cup of coffee and wander through the garden gathering cuttings for the house. I love bringing elements from the garden inside the villas.

What other projects do you have for the future?

We’re actually working on a bigger project in Milan, opening a restaurant and 7 suites in a historical building in spring 2021. The theme is centred around flowers and botany as well as on our amazing Italian territory, so expect a lot of plants, a dream glasshouse and territorial food with an exciting new twist!