Watercolour of one of the most celebrated villas in Italy.
Villa del Balbianello, one of Lake Como’s most celebrated 18th‑century villas, set on a small wooded peninsula (Dosso di Lavedo) near Lenno, in the province of Como, Lombardy.
Villa del Balbianello is an elegant neoclassical mansion with elaborate terraced gardens overlooking the south‑west branch of Lake Como. [wikipedia +1] It was created in the late 1700s by Milanese Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini on the site of a former Franciscan monastery; parts of the old monastic façade are still visible in the complex.
The last private owner was Count Guido Monzino, a noted explorer and collector, whose name now appears in the villa’s official address (Via Guido Monzino). After his death, the property passed to FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano, Italy’s national heritage trust, which now manages it as a historic house and garden open to the public.
The villa is not built on empty land but directly on the ruins of a 13th‑century Franciscan monastery. Only fragments survive visibly today, most notably the narrow church façade with twin bell towers near the entrance, which is essentially the old monastic front preserved within the later complex
Interesting facts..
One of the most used locations for filming as it's a beautiful location. Casino Royale (2006), Star Wars: Episode II and House of Gucci (2021) among others.
Location: Villa del Balbianello Via Guido Monzino, 1 22016 Tremezzina (CO) Italy
