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Villa del Balbianello

Museum | Tremezzina | Lombardia | Italy

The Villa del Balbianello in Tremezzina, Italy, is an outstanding example of 18th century architecture and a significant cultural heritage of the region. Located on the Lavedo Peninsula, it offers breathtaking views of Lake Como.

History and Architecture

The villa was built in 1787 by Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini, who used it as a summer residence and is renowned for its elaborate terraced gardens. Over the years, the villa changed owners multiple times and was used by various personalities, including Italian mountaineer and entrepreneur Guido Monzino, who enriched the villa with mementos from his expeditions and an extensive collection of artworks from around the world.

Collections and Exhibitions

Today, Villa del Balbianello houses an impressive collection of artifacts documenting the life and adventures of Guido Monzino. This includes:

Expedition equipment: Gear and relics from Monzino's expeditions, including equipment from the first Italian Everest expedition.

Art collections: Rare and ethnographic artworks from various parts of the world collected by Monzino during his travels.

Library: A collection of books and maps reflecting Monzino's interest in geography and discoveries.

Gardens and Surroundings

Surrounded by magnificent gardens laid out in terraces hosting a variety of plant species, the villa offers not only a spectacular view of the lake but also the surrounding mountains, and is a popular venue for events and private celebrations.

Importance for the Region

Villa del Balbianello plays a central role in the cultural life of the region, hosting various cultural and social events. It is a significant tourist destination attracting numerous visitors annually to enjoy the history, architecture, and stunning landscape.

The Villa del Balbianello is a fascinating example of the fusion of history, art, and nature, offering a unique insight into the life of one of the most significant adventurers of the 20th century.

Map view

Reviews

10116 Reviews

Jared Bayley
05.02.2025

Highly recommend visiting this place! It's so beautiful. The gardens and landscape are meticulously maintained, and the buildings are fascinating to look inside and see everything perfectly laid out. Everything is maintained how it was when the super rich owner owned the complex many years ago. I had an English guided tour inside the buildings, and it was super informative and fascinating. Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and could speak to every single detail. When not taking a tour, you can't go inside the buildings, you can only walk around outside. But there is so much to see that visiting here without getting a tour is worth it by itself. When I was here, there were tons of people taking pictures of the famous spot from Star Wars Episode II. There was a lineup at times for photos! This place is totally worth visiting, and the entrance fee is 100% worth it. A highlight of my trip for sure.
Kerstin K.
02.02.2025

The villa is very beautiful, everything is so clean and perfect. There is a bus station nearby, a little walk and you arrive at the villa. Worth it.
Anna Ivleva
24.08.2024

The most perfect place to visit and stroll around; just be sure to buy tickets in advance (2-3 weeks) to avoid waiting in a 1-hour line, as the place is very popular :) We also privately booked this villa at sunset without tourists for a wedding photoshoot, and I can say it was the best decision we made! Especially at sunset, when the villa is empty, it becomes a true gem of Como and undoubtedly the most beautiful attraction on the lake!
Noah
04.01.2025

Magnifique, c’est Star Wars.
eleonora bonfanti
03.06.2018

Elegante e romantica dimora immersa in un curatissimo giardino adagiato su un promontorio da cui si godono scorci incantati del Lario. Voluta nel XVII secolo dal Cardinal Durini, la villa ha ospitato letterati e viaggiatori sino al suo ultimo proprietario, Guido Monzino, avventuroso esploratore di vette: la sua vita quotidiana e le fortunate gesta emergono da cimeli di viaggio, arredi e preziose quanto curiose collezioni e oggetti d' arte.
Marco Di Maio
06.11.2024

Meravigliosa!
Dominik Żółciński
22.01.2025

Из Комо до виллы Бальбьянелло можно добраться на автобусе С10, выйти следует в Ленно, затем проделать относительно долгий путь пешком. Для всех четырёх фото из фильмов достаточно самого дешёвого билета "Ингрессо соло парко" без доступа внутрь виллы. Этот билет стоит 13 евро, можно приобрести на кассе у входа или онлайн. Фото "Энакин" делается у балкона во внутреннем дворике виллы, фото "Бонд и Веспер" у противоположной лестницы под ним, фото "Бонд и Матис" в большой лоджии с огромным деревом, а фото "Энакин и Падме" в лоджии поменьше и пониже.
davide daverio
18.01.2025

La Villa del Balbianello, situata a Lenno su un promontorio che si affaccia sulle acque cristalline del Lago di Como, è uno dei luoghi più affascinanti e romantici della zona. Con la sua posizione privilegiata e il suo ricco patrimonio storico e culturale, è una meta imperdibile per gli amanti dell’arte, della storia e della natura. La villa fu costruita nel 1787 su un preesistente monastero francescano dal cardinale Angelo Maria Durini, che desiderava un rifugio tranquillo per ritirarsi e accogliere ospiti illustri. Dopo la morte del cardinale, la villa passò di mano tra diverse famiglie nobili, tra cui i Visconti. Nel XX secolo fu acquistata dall'esploratore Guido Monzino, che la arricchì con arredi preziosi e cimeli delle sue spedizioni. Nel 1988, Monzino lasciò la villa al Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI), garantendone la conservazione e l'apertura al pubblico. La villa è un capolavoro di eleganza, con: Logge panoramiche: Tra cui la famosa loggia a due arcate, che offre una vista mozzafiato sul lago e sui monti circostanti. Arredi storici: Una collezione di mobili d’epoca, opere d’arte, libri antichi e cimeli delle spedizioni di Monzino. Biblioteca e mappa delle spedizioni: Spazi dedicati alla passione dell’esploratore per i viaggi e la geografia. La villa è stata scelta come set per film celebri, tra cui Star Wars: Episodio II – L’attacco dei cloni e Casino Royale. È raggiungibile a piedi da Lenno tramite un piacevole sentiero o via lago in taxi-boat, che offre un ingresso scenografico.
Éva Simonyi
10.06.2024

Buying online tickets is limited, so we had to wait in line for more than 1 hour, no bench to sit on, no restroom near the ticket office. We only visited the garden, that was amazingly beautiful but the experience was not perfect because of the logistics of ticket buying.
SirSwedeMan 0
26.12.2024

Detta är det perfekta resmålet för dig som ogillar sand!
Paul Saunders
14.01.2025

Great example of an Italian villa with amazing historical artefacts. Well worth a visit when visiting lake Como
e dungey
19.05.2024

Spectacular and a bit crowded
Luciana Manganiello
12.01.2025

Purtroppo non è possibile indicare meno di una stella…Ciò è dovuto dal fatto che io, e almeno una decina di stranieri e altri italiani, non ho potuto visitarla perché chiusa. Sul sito non era specificato e neanche la Velasca, altra attrattiva di Ossuccio (CO). Sono una tesserata FAI e mi spiace che abbiano fornito una comunicazione così inesatta
Stef 356
11.01.2025

Mettez vos horaires d’ouverture à jour Nous sommes venus de France 🇫🇷 Pour visiter la villa et alors que le site donne la villa ouverte ce n’est pas le cas ! C’est pas correct ☑️
Moylx
11.01.2025

Awesome views. I think many movie was filmed on this villa, I recommend to visit if you like vintage item and wonderful views.
Θοδωρης Γαλανης
07.01.2025

Όμορφη τοποθεσία, όμορφη βίλα. Δύσκολη πρόσβαση με καρότσι κι μωρό. Πήγαμε Δεκέμβριο και ήταν κλειστό τις καθημερινές χωρίς καμία ενημέρωση (ούτε στο site, ούτε στο google, ούτε στο Tiqets. γενικά αδιαφορία) με αποτέλεσμα να πάμε Πέμπτη και χάσουμε όλη μας τη μέρα εκεί! Επειδή το είχαμε πληρώσει ξανά πήγαμε την επομένη μέρα και μας παρείχαν μόνο βόλτα στους εξωτερικούς χώρους. Δεν ήταν επισκέψιμος κανένας εσωτερικός χώρος.
Adriana Batovici
04.01.2025

Parc și vedere la lac foarte frumoase
Michal Myslowski
04.01.2025

I don't like sand
Megi Megi
01.01.2025

Piękne miejsce. Szczególnie dla fanów agenta 007 🤩
Kassie McGrath
31.12.2024

A beautiful morning exploring the gardens of the Villa. Highly recommend in the low season to have a slow approach around. And go in the morning to catch the beautiful light on the lake. There are 3 ways to get to the villa from the carpark. The walk is a minimum 1km up hill on loose gravel from the carpark. Or there is a water taxi. There are signs to guide you. If you want to go inside the villa you must book online in advance. Only tickets for the garden are available at the gate.
Francesca Toso
30.12.2024

Un luogo davvero meraviglioso la cui visita vale un viaggio dedicato. Parco elegante e tenuto con grandissima cura. Complimenti al FAI
Mi G (MG)
29.12.2024

Amazing villa with nice garden
Daniela Saavedra
26.12.2024

Para llegar toma unos 15 a 20 min cuesta arriba. El lugar maravilloso y vale la pena.

 

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