Property for Sale in Novara, Piedmont
The Province of Novara lies in north-eastern Piedmont, between the Sesia and the Ticino rivers. Its southern half is the flat rice-growing plain around the city of Novara, while the north reaches the lakes: the south-western shore of Lake Maggiore, facing Lombardy across the water, and the eastern shore of Lake Orta.
All the homes listed in the province on this site are on or above Lake Maggiore, and almost all of them are villas. This is a prestige market, with properties generally priced above €1 million and many well above that, including period villas with parkland, lake views and in some cases direct access to the water.
Lesa, Meina and the Western Shore
Lesa has the largest selection of homes in the province on this site. It is a small lakeside town on the road between Arona and Stresa, with a lakefront promenade, a landing stage for the lake boats and a long tradition of summer villas built by Milanese and Piedmontese families. Villas here range from nineteenth-century houses with gardens to modern homes set higher up the slope.
Meina, a little to the south, has a similar character, with grand villas along the shore and residential streets climbing the hillside. Both towns look across the lake to the Lombard shore, and the Borromean Islands are a short boat trip to the north.
Massino Visconti and the Vergante Hills
Above the lake shore, the Vergante is a hilly area of chestnut woods, meadows and small villages. Massino Visconti, on a ridge above Lesa, is named after the Visconti family, whose castle still stands in the village, and it has wide views over the lake. Properties here offer more privacy and space than on the shore, with gardens and panoramic positions, while remaining close to the lakeside towns.
Arona and the Southern Lake
Arona is the main town at the southern end of the lake, with a lively centre, a lakefront and the colossal statue of San Carlo Borromeo on the hill above, which visitors can climb inside. Opposite, the Rocca di Angera stands on the Lombard shore. Arona offers apartments and villas with easy access to services and transport.
South of Arona, Castelletto sopra Ticino lies where the Ticino flows out of the lake, close to the Ticino valley park and to Milan Malpensa airport.
Property and Lifestyle in Novara Province
Arona and Novara provide hospitals, schools, shopping and year-round services, while the smaller lake towns have local shops, restaurants and markets. Many lakeside villas are used as second homes, and the area is quieter outside the summer months.
Boating, swimming, lakeside walks and the gardens of the Borromean Islands are part of daily life, and the Alps are close for skiing and walking. Lake Orta, with the island of San Giulio and the village of Orta San Giulio, is a short drive to the west. The province’s food reflects its rice fields, with risotto and paniscia, and the wines of the hills north of Novara.
Airports and Transport Connections
Milan Malpensa airport is very close to the southern end of the lake and has flights across Europe and further afield. Milan Linate and Turin are alternatives.
The A26 motorway runs above the western shore of the lake, with exits serving the lake towns, and links with motorways to Milan, Turin and Genoa. The railway from Milan to Domodossola and Switzerland follows the lake shore, with stations at Arona and other lake towns, and boats of the lake’s public ferry service connect the towns on both shores.
Buying and Renovating Property in Novara Province
Lakeside villas often come with outbuildings, boathouses, moorings or private landing stages. Have a local surveyor (geometra) confirm that every building matches its cadastral and planning records, and check that any mooring or use of the shoreline is covered by a valid state concession. Lake Maggiore occasionally floods, so properties close to the water should be checked against flood maps.
Historic villas and their gardens may be subject to heritage and landscape protection, which limits changes to the exterior and the grounds. Large houses and parks also have significant running costs for heating, maintenance and gardening, which should be budgeted for alongside any renovation.
From lakefront villas in Lesa and Meina to hillside homes in Massino Visconti, the Province of Novara offers prestige property on Lake Maggiore, close to Milan and Malpensa airport.