Near to Lake Maggiore, in the Medieval town of Azzate , the Hotel Locanda dei Mai

Intees, formerly a 15th century private villa, is an exquisite and charming hideaway hotel.

Beautifully restored with its combination of frescoes, antiques yet modern technology the

Locanda boast 12 individually designed rooms and suites. A member of chef Alain Ducasse’s

"Chateaux and Hotels Collection", the hotel has a fine culture of cuisine in the Mai Intees

Restaurant which serves regional dishes accompanied with a selection of super wines.

Locanda dei Mai Intees is ideally situated with easy access to Lake of Como, Milan, Lugano

and nearby Milano Malpensa International Airport.

The heart of the Locanda is undoubtedly the lounge, located in the ancient veranda, with its

inviting sofas and armchairs upholstered in fabric with paisley patterns in warm reds,

discreet lighting, pink walls, stone floor and cast-iron stove. A backgammon set is always

available, should guests wish to play a game or two.

On one side of the room large windows look out on a lush garden and on the other, the view

is of the courtyard with the well. Here too is the small stone chapel with a Madonna that

was a gift from the town’s parish priest to the current owners’ great grandparents. Dinner is

served in the courtyard during the summer months.

The front garden offers a stunning view of the Locanda with its trees and tall, elegant palms

illuminated by fairytale lighting. The perfume of the mandarin, cedar and lemon trees in their

large terracotta vases wafts through the air. There are gardenias, white camellias, ivy,

cyclamens and other white flowers that are Carlotta Pomati’s favourites.

The Locanda began life as a restaurant in 1989, with a menu devised by Gualtiero Marchesi.

The kitchens are located below, where the old medieval prison once stood. In 1997, the

owners added the first six rooms, and the last six in 2004. The restaurant, which was an

immediate success, is also popular with the Milanese, especially from May to October.

There are various sections in the restaurant. The main dining room was once the chemist’s

shop. On two walls there is a large classical-style frieze in grey and terracotta with trompe

l’oeil columns and caryatids, which came to light during renovation work. The Villeroy and

Boch plates are decorated with small flowers. This room is dominated by an imposing

sixteenth-century fireplace at the far end. The private room for two-only is always pre-

booked and made even more intimate by its fireplace. Many great love stories began here:

after the first romantic dinner, couples usually celebrate their weddings, baptisms and

anniversaries at the Locanda. In short, it’s a place you fall in love with.

The cuisine is light, refined and painstakingly prepared, and features delicious regional and

international dishes. Particular care is taken to select seasonal produce and the finest

accompanying wines.

Some of the rooms – two of which have a fireplace – have maintained the original

furnishings and bear the names of the various grandmothers who once slept there: Francesca,

Carla, Maria, Elisa and Amelia.

Other rooms were added more recently. All are on two levels and have old oak beams and

parquet floors. These rooms are romantic, and appropriately named “Romeo”, “Giulietta” (a

wooden balcony overlooks the garden), “Casanova” and “Valentino”.

They all have antique wicker furniture, comfortable sofas upholstered in cretonne and Toile

de Jouy with simple designs in soft shades, white crocheted cotton bed covers, delicate white

net curtains trimmed with lace that once belonged to the owners’ great grandmother, and

seventeenth-century paintings depicting country scenes.

The overall effect is one of harmony, enhanced by the coffered wooden ceilings. The marble

bathrooms offer every modern comfort. Some come with both a bath and a turbo shower.

All of the rooms have air conditioning, satellite TV, safe-box, minibar, telephone and free

Wi-Fi internet connection.

Hotel & Restaurant

Locanda dei Mai Intees

Via Monte Grappa, n. 22

21022 Azzate VA Italy

www.mai-intees.it

info@mai-intees.com