Nature ART & CULTURE
The como Lake is one of the most famous lake in the world, known for its magificent and unique views and for the ancient and prestigious villas on its shores.
VILLA DEL BALBIANELLO in Lenno is one of the best known. Built in the 1700s by Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini, it has hosted personalities such as Silvio Pellico, Alessandro Manzoni and Giovanni Berchet. The villa, surrounded by a large and lush park, has a small port from which, through a staircase, you get to the upper floors, where you are greeted by the French inscription “Fay ce que voudras” (“do what you want”).
VILLA CARLOTTA among the historic villas overlooking Lake Como is one of the oldest. It was built in the town of Tremezzo, commissioned by the Marquis Clerici in 1690, His famous garden, in April May which houses 150 different varieties of azaleas, gives a unique show.
VILLA MELZI D’ERIL in Bellagio, was built in the early ‘800. In the internal halls are preserved works of art of great value while in the magnificent garden stand out rare plants and trees, along with wonderful patches of color given by rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas.
VILLA OLMO houses the main public park of Como, in English style. There you can admire monumental plants such as horse chestnuts, cedars of lebanon and giant sequoias. Its name comes from one of these monumental plants, a secular elm tree that dominated the park. The Villa, built in the ‘700 has hosted over the centuries famous people like Napoleon Bonaparte, Ugo Foscolo, the Emperor of Austria Ferdinand I and Giuseppe Garibaldi.
