Hotels We Love: Casa della Capra

Casa della Capra is a boutique hotel and restaurant where an artist and a cook use art, cycling, and food as a way of exploring the territory.

Some hotels try to be everything to everyone. Casa della Capra does the opposite. It chooses a few things and does them exceptionally well, by design.

Set directly in Piedmont, on Lake Mergozzo, it is a restored 1910 house.

This intimate three-star boutique hotel is built around a simple idea: offer excellent food, thoughtful design, and easy access to the outdoors.

Why It Works

Casa della Capra presents itself as a hub for cycling, food, and art in Northern Italy and it genuinely delivers on all three.

It’s also the only truly bike-focused hotel in the area, which makes it an ideal base if you want to ride somewhere that still feels under the radar.

Most visitors head straight for nearby Lake Maggiore.

Staying here instead means quieter roads, smaller villages, and a more local atmosphere. You’re close enough to dip in when you want more energy, but far enough away that you can step back into calm whenever you choose.

The Setting

Mergozzo is compact, calm, and easy to settle into. The lake is known for its unusually clear water, and life here moves at a slower rhythm.

From the hotel, you’re just steps from the shore.

Swim in the morning, wander into the village, sit by the water, or do absolutely nothing. You settle into the pace without trying and feel like a local in no time.

Lake Maggiore isn’t far away. It works well for day trips if you want more movement, boat rides, the Borromean Islands, or a busier lake scene.

Then you come back here and it all drops away again.

Food 

The restaurant isn’t an add-on or an afterthought. It’s part of the reason the place exists.

Felipe, the chef and co-owner, is both cyclist and cook. Before opening Casa della Capra, he led bike and food tours across Italy, much like the experiences we create at Tourissimo. 

The menu reflects that background.

It isn’t strictly Italian; instead, it blends Italian and South American influences with a strong focus on cooking over fire.

Grilled meats feature prominently, but everything is rooted in local ingredients and seasonality, so the food feels connected to the place and never heavy.

For Cyclists (and Everyone Else)

Cyclists have immediate access to scenic lake loops and quiet climbs with little traffic.

There's no oversized bike “complex,” no large crowds, just genuinely good riding.

Casa della Capra offers:

• bike rentals
• curated cycling itineraries (1 day to 1 week)
• optional van support

Non-cyclists are just as well served.

The hotel offers many comfortable cummunal spaces both indoors an out, and there's a hottub on site. Swimming in the lake is just across the street. 

You can:

• hike in the surrounding hills
• run along the lake
• explore nearby villages

You don’t need a plan here. You can fill your days with activity or do almost nothing at all, and it still feels like you made the right choice. 

Art

At Casa della Capra art is one of the pillars, creativity is built into the rhythm of daily life. 

Under the guidance of Patricia, co-founder, architect, and artist, the hotel hosts:

• art workshops
• an artist residency program

Guests can join workshops or simply be around the creative energy of the place, where art, nature, and everyday life overlap in a very natural way.

Pet-friendly

Dogs are welcome, and there’s a resident four-legged greeter, Margot, who takes her role very seriously.

The Bottom Line

This isn’t a high-energy, showy lake resort. 

Casa della Capra is a small, design-forward boutique hotel in Northern Italy, perfect if you're looking for:

• great food
• meaningful cycling routes
• a slower, more local experience

 You'll come for a quieter slice of northern Italy and leave wondering why more people haven’t discovered it yet.

And honestly, it won’t stay a secret for long!

If you're joining one of our cycling or hiking tours in Italy, this is exactly the kind of place we love to include.