Villa del Balbianello is set in a commanding location on the edge of a wooded promontory that juts out from the coastline. Stroll around the handsome building befitting this striking setting and find well-landscaped gardens and an interesting museum.
The villa was constructed in the late 18th century on the site of an earlier monastery. After a succession of different owners, it finally became the home of Milanese businessman Guido Monzino in the 1970s. Monzino left the villa to Fondo Ambiente Italiano, a non-profit organization that continues to manage the property today.
Keep an eye out for the inscription that translates to “do as you please,” carved into the pavement of the entrance portico. Admire the 13th-century façade of the villa’s small church, the only remains of the old monastery.As you wander through the villa’s lovely garden, you’ll see statues amid pines, sycamores and laurel bushes. You may recognize the grounds of the villa from several well-known movies, including Casino Royaleand Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones.
Follow the path leading to the highest part of the garden, where you’ll find the villa’s famous loggia. On one side, you can see the Gulf of Diana and on the other, the Gulf of Venus and the town of Bellagio. Notice the loggia’s three arcades are attractively covered with evergreen vines.
Be sure to explore the museum housed inside the villa, which is dedicated to the adventures of its last owner, Guido Monzino. Admire the African, Chinese and pre-Columbia art, as well as the stately 18th-century English and French furniture. You’ll also see mementos from Monzino’s journey to the summit of Mount Everest in 1973, the first ascension ever made by an Italian.
Villa del Balbianello is located on the western shore of Lake Como. It’s open from mid-March to mid-November and there is an admission fee. Tours of the villa’s interior must be arranged in advance.
