Torre dell'Isola was an ideal place for our group of eight, consisting of our family of four and four friends of our children, ages 22 to 25. The place was as advertised: the furnishings and appliances are dated, but it is an authentic Italian villa, full of charm, located in a village with less tourist traffic, and featuring a spectacular view from every room. Private steps provide easy access to the lake for cooling swims in the afternoon heat. We loved the outdoor space, whether for morning coffee on the circular stone patio above the water or for dinner on the lawn.
A few caveats are worth noting to ensure a good fit. First, as noted, the furnishings and appliances are dated; someone expecting five-star luxury will be disappointed. Second, there are fans but no air conditioning. For us this was no problem, as the July heat at midday would gave way to temperatures in the low 70s at night, and most of us cooled off in the lake once or twice a day in any event. Some will feel differently, however. Third, the ferry service to Sala Comacina is more limited than in the big towns like Bellagio and Menaggio, so visitors should plan on taking a private water taxi (which are more expensive), a bus or a car. Finally, there is only one parking spot, located a short walk from the villa, and the villa can be accessed only on foot. There is only limited parking in Sala Comacina, so finding a space for our second car was a bit of a challenge. We always did find a spot, usually within five minutes' walk of the villa, up several flights of stairs. Again, none of these factors were problems for us, and all of us thoroughly enjoyed our stay at La Torre dell'Isola.