Villas, Gardens and Landscapes

Tremezzo, lake cruise, Villa Balbianello, Bellagio and Villa Melzi d’Eril

The history of the aristocratic families, whose magnificent mansions witness their glorious past on the shores of lake Como, represents the leitmotif of this tour of the most beautiful villas in the central lake region …

ITINERARY DESCRIPTION: Meeting with the guide at Tremezzo, visit of Villa Carlotta: the building has become a sort of icon of Lake Como, with its botanical garden of rare beauty which, in spring, offers the breathtaking view of 150 varieties of azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias in full bloom. Visit of the villa: the villa has been turned into a museum featuring statues, paintings and furniture mainly dating from the XIXth century.
A cruise in the central part of the lake follows. From the lake you will enjoy a unique view of the lake shores, of the villages, historical mansions and breathtakingly beautiful landscape for which this region, the Tremezzina, is famous worldwide.
Late in the morning the guide will take you to visit the Villa Balbianello at Lenno; the villa, situated on top of a promontory overhanging the lake, was built on the remains of a convent for Cardinal Durini at the end of ‘700. Later it was inhabited by the aristocratic families Lambertenghi and Arconti Visconti.
The interior of the Villa nowadays is a museum owned by FAI (Italian Environment Foundation) displaying the amazing collections and travel mementos of the last owner of the villa, Guido Monzino. Lunch at a typical restaurant with local cuisine.
The last leg of the tour features the visit of Villa Melzi d’Eril at Bellagio: built in a short period of time for Francesco Melzi d’Eril, it is surrounded by one of the most beautiful English landscape gardens in Northern Italy and is rich in exotic woods, eye-catching architectural elements, and precious furnishings.