Casa Cortesella

The location is great: It is near the centre of everything, but still quiet at night (in a sidestreet, I slept perfectly), and a 10 min walk from the train station. The owner Giovanni and his son were both very friendly and nice, and I received good info about how to find it in advance. I was very happy that I was offered to leave my luggage for a couple of hours after check-out (at 10), so that I could see Villa Monastero in the morning. (If not, check-out at 10 would maybe be a bit early, but no problem then.) Advice of watching the sunset was also good advice - beautiful :) Else, everything was like in the photos. The balcony had a nice sideways lake view, it was great sitting there and relax after dinner. The room looked new and refurbished. The aircondition worked well. I was not sure whether I should stay in Varenna, because the city in general is a bit expensive, but I don’t regret it! And Casa Cortesella was a great place to stay!

Nothing, so here are 10 points out of 10

Giovanni and his wife are amazing hosts. They met us at the door and helped us with our luggage. They let us check in early and offered to let us leave our luggage after checkout. They gave us dinner recommendations. Not to mention the location is absolutely perfect. It is right in the center of town with a beautiful view of the water from the balcony. It is also super accessible from the train station and ferry. We highly recommend staying at Casa Cortesella, it was an unforgettable experience.

We loved the location of Casa Cortesella. Staying right in the heart of Varenna, so close to the lake, the ferry, the small streets & villa made the whole experience feel very special and authentic. The apartment itself was cozy, modern and thoughtfully decorated. Perfect for two people. We especially enjoyed the lovely view while having breakfast outside in the morning atmosphere of Varenna. Giovanni was also very kind and helpful throughout our stay, which made everything feel easy and comfortable from the beginning.

The walking directions were very detailed and helpful, but perhaps a Google Maps screenshot or short video could make them even easier to follow at first. One of the pillows was quite hard, but overall we were still very satisfied with our stay.

Gorgeous room, everything you need, great location and Giovanni was a fantastic host

We loved everything