Just below the hamlet of Castello we find Oria, another charming village in Valsolda on the Como side of Lake Lugano.  

Here the main attraction is Villa Fogazzaro Roi, where the writer Antonio Fogazzaro lived for long periods and which in 1896 inspired him to write the famous novel Piccolo mondo antico.  The magical atmosphere of the stories narrated by Fogazzaro can still be experienced today in the villa's interior, which can be visited, thanks to the efforts of Marquis Giuseppe Roi. A great-grandson of the writer, in the mid-20th century he renovated and refurbished every room, taking care of the family's furnishings and heirlooms, and also left the house to the FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano) so that it would not be lost.     Its charm is enhanced by Fogazzaro's writing desk, which features numerous notes written on the wood of the drawers, and the delightful hanging garden adorned with flowering hedges.      

(Ph: fondoambiente.it)