Casa Mara: the Great Beauty of Varenna - Lakefront Haven, Stunning Views [A/C]

Stop looking for a place in Lake Como. You’ve found the perfect place at Casa Mara. Located steps from Lake Como, Mara and Paolo’s home offers tantalizing glimpses of the lake from the kitchen, bathroom and balconies and a stunning full view from the loft living space. Mara and Paolo themselves met us, showed us around their home and went as far as showing us quickly around town, pointing out the best salumeria, restaurants and sights along the way. Their charming apartment has everything you might need. The large water bottle and milk left in the refrigerator for us was much appreciated after a long day of travel. It saved us a trip to the store when we were exhausted. The bottle of sparkling wine was another nice touch. The two bedrooms sleep five and the loft bedroom two more in single beds. The bathroom is spacious. The washer worked well, and hanging the clothes out the window in a charming courtyard turned out perfectly fine. And then there is its location right in the center of it all….the ferry is a breathtaking ten minute walk along the waterfront. The train station is likewise about fifteen minutes walk (note the uphill incline going to the train from the apartment..it can be challenging if you have a lot of luggage). Varenna itself provides the perfect, authentic and quiet home base to explore the rest of Lake Como. Paolo could not have been more responsive to our every need. Thank you, Mara and Paolo, for your kind attention during our stay.

Really enjoyed our yay here right in the heart of Varenna

Our host was great! He clearly explained everything to us. We felt very welcomed. The amenities were beyond what was expected.

Perfect, perfect hosts

Absolutely fantastic stay. From initial communications to personal meet and brief by Paolo made arrival process welcoming and thorough. The location was perfect for travel in or away from Varenna. The kitchen was well stocked with snackies and a welcome bottle of wine. The loft overlooking the lake was a fabulous retreat after a day exploring the lake. Can’t recommend highly enough.

We had a wonderful stay at Casa Mara. The place is full of charm, very comfortable and the location could not be better. There are beautiful views, annd easy access to restaurants, the lake and the ferry. Paolo was a wonderful host - he managed everything up to and during our stay with efficiency and kindness. I highly recommend Casa Mara.

The villa is just the right size for a couple or small family. It’s perfectly located in Varenna and easy walking distance to everything. The owners are wonderful, met us to take us to the property and provide several nice amenities. They also checked in on us to make sure we were okay and provided several options for things to do and places to eat. Would highly recommend if you want a true Italian experience.

This property was a dream stay for us! We stayed for a month and it was very hard to leave. Upon arrival I had the pleasure of meeting Paolo and Mara. They were the sweetest…accommodating and welcoming! They had milk, water, snacks and even a bottle of wine waiting for us! VERY much appreciated after a long day of travel. They left great restaurant & activity recommendations that we took advantage of during our visit.The location is amazing: the flat is located in the heart of beautiful Varenna! The lake view is stunning and so we started and ended every day enjoying it. The house was also extremely clean. Varenna is a very special place and we cannot recommend Casa Mara enough!

This property checks all the boxes for a great trip to Varenna and to explore Lake Como. It is in an ideal location, central to restaurants and shopping and close to the ferry docks. It was incredibly clean and well appointed with nice details, like coffee and basic herbs and spices and plenty of other amenities to make the stay comfortable. We spent hours sitting in the loft, taking in the view as well as exploring the town and other towns in the Lake Como are. Communication with the hosts was simple and easy. We are already thinking about how we can return.

Marco was a great host, and Casa Mara is an enviable home. Made for a great week in Varenna to relax right by the water. We even made a couple of meals in the kitchen rather than going out every meal, and the kitchen setup was fully stocked with everything we needed. Thanks for the bottle of wine too!

Everything was wonderful from the location to the views to how easy it was to communicate with Paolo. I would highly recommend this property to anyone looking for a great place to stay in Varenna!

We loved everything about it this beautiful apartment, the check in process was so lovely, Paolo and Mara are very accommodating. The local restaurants, deli, bakery and grocery store are perfect. We had amazing weather so spent time out on the water and exploring the surrounding areas. As a family of 5 we loved the different areas in the apartment and how close it was to the water, shops and restaurants. We will miss this apartment and Verenna as we stayed for a week we got to know the locals and relax and enjoy the area. The apartment had everything we needed for our stay! Laura, Dave, Ethan, Milla and Tommy

When we arrived in Varenna Paolo and Mara met us at the house and went over everything with us. They even took my son-in-law with them when they left and showed him where the best restaurants were in Varenna. My son-in-law even came back with an amazing bottle of wine compliments of our hosts. We would highly recommend staying here. It was very clean and immaculate. Whenever we had any questions our hosts would immediately respond. Some of the best hosts so far on VRBO!! We definitely will be coming back.

This home is a ideally situated in the idyllic setting of Varenna. The location could not be better for walking around the town. Paolo is an owner / host and was very welcoming. He met us at the train to help us with a short walk to the house. This home is 400 or so years old but was completely renovated and is stunning. The views from upstairs overlooking Lake Como are better than the photos. The kitchen was fully outfitted and we cooked in several nights. Paolo provided many recommendations which exceeded expectations. Our family is my wife and three grown children, we are typical Italian size (read not so tall or large). We could easily manage the spiral stairs and low beams upstairs, but if you are tall or not so nimble this may be challenging. Our only small comment that prevents a perfect 10/10 was that outside of the master bed the mattresses were very firm and the two futons were not able to be used by grown adults. If your trip is 2-4 adults who can share a bed you will not be disappointed. Varenna and Casa Mara are a place I would definitely return to stay again.

My wife and I retired this year, and we wanted to find a special place to wind up our trip in Italy, especially as our two adult sons were with us. Our expectations were greatly exceeded. Paolo met us at the train station, and on the way he commented you have made an excellent choice. Indeed, his words rang true! The interior is tastefully furnished and decorated. He pointed out the 500 yr old wood beams which were left intact after it was refurbished. It was absolutely spotless inside, it is easily the cleanest rental we have ever stated in. Most of our time, when there, was spent on the second floor, where there is a breathtaking view of the lake and mountain peak. The scene constantly changed, sometimes by the hour. At times the clouds would touch the mountain. Thunderstorms might roll in, once the peak was almost obliterated by fog, at other times, the sky was blue and you could see perfectly. I would suggest walking up the street on the other side of the train station, where there is a great view of the Swiss Alps. And certainly, make the long but challenging (for us, not our sons) climb to the castle for more incredible views. We typically don't spend what we did for lodging as we did, but it was worth every penny. It was an unforgettable experience. Thanks again, Paolo and Mara. (PS when you come to America, let me know and you'll get treated to the worst Italian food you have ever eaten haha).