Over the past year we have had more and more enquiries that do not fit the usual holiday shape. A couple from Boston who wanted six weeks in October. A software engineer from Austin looking for somewhere to work from between January and March. A retired pair from California who had never been to Italy and wanted to try living here for a season before deciding anything bigger. All of them asked the same question: can we rent Villa Volpe by the month?
The answer is yes. From October to May we offer mid-term stays of one month or more, quoted per month rather than per night, for the exact period you need. This article explains what that looks like in practice, what the lake is like out of season, and what an American guest in particular should know before planning a long stay.
Why rent by the month, and why out of season
Lake Orta in July is lovely and busy. Lake Orta in November is lovely and empty. The village of Orta San Giulio, which in summer is shared with several hundred day-trippers, goes back to being a village. The island of San Giulio sits in still water most mornings. Restaurants have tables, the market has parking, and the light, especially in late October and again in March, is better than anything summer produces.
A month here is a different experience from a week. You stop being a tourist around day five. You learn which bakery opens first, you have a table you like, you drive to Lake Maggiore on a Tuesday because you can. And the maths changes completely: a lakefront house that is priced for holidaymakers in August costs a fraction of that per night when it is rented for a whole month in February.
We wrote more about the character of the quiet months in our guide to Lake Orta in autumn and winter, and about the other end of the season in Lake Orta in spring.
Who this is for
- Remote workers. The time difference works in your favour. Italy is six hours ahead of New York and nine ahead of Los Angeles, so you have a free morning on the lake and your US colleagues come online after lunch. Many of our guests keep East Coast hours from 3 pm to 11 pm and spend the mornings walking, swimming in the cooler months if they are brave, or simply reading by the water.
- Sabbaticals and career breaks. A month is long enough to actually rest, take Italian lessons in nearby Omegna or online, and learn to cook with what the local market sells that week.
- People considering Italy. If you are thinking about a second home, retirement or a longer move, a season on Lake Orta is a far better test than a fortnight. You find out what winter is like, how the paperwork feels and whether you like the pace.
- Families between homes or on extended leave, who want space, a kitchen and a garden rather than a hotel.
The house, for a long stay
Villa Volpe is a single-storey house of 65 square metres (about 700 square feet) three metres from the water, with a private beach and a garden that runs down to the shore. It was designed as a holiday home, but it happens to work well for living in:
- Two king-size bedrooms, one with en-suite, sleeping up to four.
- An open living room and full kitchen facing the lake, with a dining table that doubles as a very good desk. There are not many offices with this view.
- Heating and air conditioning in every room, so January is comfortable. The house sits on the sunny shore of the lake.
- Free Wi-Fi throughout via a mobile router that supports up to ten devices. It handles video calls without drama. If your work needs very heavy bandwidth all day, tell us and we will be straight with you about what to expect.
- A washing machine and a properly equipped kitchen, so you can cook rather than camp.
- Private parking on the property and a 220 V socket for charging an electric car.
- Fully wheelchair accessible, with level access from the parking to the beach. See our accessibility page.
- Dogs welcome. The garden runs down to the water and the private beach is right there. See our guide to Lake Orta with a dog.
The full tour, with photos of every room, is on the Discover page.
Practical life on Lake Orta out of season
You need a car. The house is on the lakeshore road and the nearest shops are a short drive away. Rent one at Milan Malpensa, which is under an hour from the door and has direct flights from New York, Miami and other US cities.
Shopping and daily life. Orta San Giulio has bakeries, a pharmacy, small grocers and a weekly market. Omegna, ten minutes north, has supermarkets, a hospital, hardware stores and the everyday Italian town life that the village does not pretend to offer. Novara and Milan are for anything bigger, and Milan is a comfortable day trip by car or train.
What closes. Be realistic. Boat services to the island run on a reduced timetable in winter, some restaurants close for weeks between November and February, and the chapels of the Sacro Monte shut after late October. The village, the walks, the lake and the good restaurants that stay open are all still there, and you have them to yourself.
Day trips that become weekend habits. Lake Maggiore and Stresa are twenty minutes away. The Alps are an hour north: Alagna and Macugnaga for skiing in winter, the Val Grande national park for walking. Turin and Milan are both under two hours. Lake Como, if you must, is a long day.
Language. English is spoken in the tourist parts of the village and less so in Omegna. A month is exactly the right length to find that charming rather than frustrating, and to learn enough Italian to order properly.
For US citizens: the 90-day question
Americans can stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. That comfortably covers a one, two or three-month stay. If you want longer, Italy offers an elective residence visa for those with independent income and, since 2024, a digital nomad visa for qualified remote workers. Both take planning and paperwork. We are hosts, not immigration advisers, so please check the current requirements with your nearest Italian consulate before committing to a stay beyond 90 days.
Under Italian law a stay of more than 30 days is set up as a short registered lease rather than a holiday booking. We handle the paperwork; for you it means a proper written agreement with clear dates and terms, and a registered address in Italy for the length of your stay.
How pricing works
There is no fixed monthly tariff on the website, because no two mid-term stays are the same. A quote depends on the months you choose, how many of them, how many guests, and whether you bring a dog or need to charge a car. What we can tell you is this:
- Stays are quoted per month, not per night, and the longer the stay, the better the monthly rate.
- Periods are custom. Start on the 14th and finish on the 21st three months later if that is what your calendar needs.
- The quote spells out what is included, so there are no surprises at check-out.
- You book directly with us. There is no platform between you and the owners, and no platform fee.
How to ask for a quote
Our online calendar is built for holiday bookings and only shows stays of up to a month. For anything longer, write to us directly at villavolpeorta@gmail.com with:
- your ideal arrival and departure dates, and how flexible they are;
- the number of guests;
- whether you are bringing a dog or an electric car;
- anything else that matters to you, from a quiet workspace to a particular month you want to avoid.
You will get a written monthly quote, usually within 24 hours, from the family that owns the house. If the dates work, we hold them for you while you sort out flights.
The lake will still be here in August. It is simply better, and yours, in the months in between.
Questions we are asked about mid-term stays
What is the minimum length?
One month. Longer stays are quoted in whole months (two, three, six) or for a custom period that starts and ends on the dates you need. Mid-term stays are available outside the summer season, roughly October to May.
How do I get a quote?
Email villavolpeorta@gmail.com with your dates, the number of guests and whether you are bringing a dog or an electric car. You receive a written monthly quote, usually within 24 hours.
Is the Wi-Fi good enough for remote work?
Wi-Fi is free throughout the house via a mobile router that supports up to ten devices. It handles video calls and everyday work. If your job depends on very heavy bandwidth all day, tell us before booking and we will give you an honest answer for your dates.
Can US citizens stay more than 90 days?
Not without a visa. The 90-in-180 rule covers a stay of up to three months; beyond that, look at Italy's elective residence visa or the digital nomad visa, and check the current requirements with your consulate.
Do I need a car?
Yes. The house is on the lakeshore road and shops, restaurants and the village are a short drive away. There is private parking on the property and a 220 V socket for charging an electric car.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes. Villa Volpe is dog friendly, with a garden on the lake and a private beach three metres from the door. An extra cleaning fee applies and is included in your quote.