Villa Balbianello

Villa Balbianello Review

Villa Balbianello may be the most magical house in all of Italy. It sits on its own little promontory, Il Dosso d'Avedo—separating the bays of Venus and Diana—around the bend from the tiny fishing village of Ossuccio. Relentlessly picturesque, the villa is composed of loggias, terraces, and palazzini (tiny palaces), all spilling down verdant slopes to the lakeshore, where you'll find an old Franciscan church, a magnificent stone staircase, and a statue of San Carlo Borromeo blessing the waters. The villa is most frequently reached by launch from Como and Bellagio and leaves you at Lenno. Marked signs lead you to the villa and is accessible by foot (20-minute walk) on Tuesday and weekends, while the villa provides private boat service for visitors to the villa on Thursday and Friday. Visits are usually restricted to the gardens, but guided tours (€60, must be arranged in advance) include the villa.