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Villa del Balbianello, Tremezzina

4.8

#1 of 399 in Things to do in Lake Como

Architectural Building Tourist Spot Must See

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The queen of Lake Como, Villa del Balbianello rests on the tip of a small wooded peninsula and is celebrated for its elaborate terraced gardens. The villa was built in 1787 on the site of a Franciscan monastery. By the time wealthy American businessman Butler Ames purchased the property in the early 20th century, the villa had fallen into a state of neglect. Ames renovated the estate extensively, making vast improvements to the already impressive gardens. In 1974 the property was sold to Guido Monzino, the leader of the first Italian expedition to Mount Everest, who filled the villa with a rich collection of fine art and artifacts acquired on his expeditions. After paying the entry fee, you can walk freely through the gardens and enjoy the sweeping views of the lake. Guided tours of the interior are available at additional cost. To visit Villa del Balbianello and get the most from your holiday in Tremezzina, create itinerary details personal to you using our Tremezzina day trip planning tool .

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Villa del Balbianello Reviews

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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

3,287 reviews

Google

4.8

• By Fiona P

  One of the best guided tours I have been on. The villa and its gardens are stunning and the tour was Informative and very interesting. Can get very busy so don't leave it too late in the day to visit.  more »

• By mlbpafan

  This is a tough place to get to, but worth it. The Villa is on the point, but 1/2 KM walk from the ferry just gets you to the crossroad. At this point you can choose the 1 KM walk or a boat ride...  more »

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Google

• By Arno Do

  Superb experience 🙂 I was scared about the tourist trap because of the popularity of the area. But I was positively surprised by the Spot. I advice you to take the full ticket and not only the garden even if it's twice the price. You will have access at the inside of the villa and its history. It's a very dynamic visit of one hour. You'll see and learn a lot. Definitely worth it !

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• By Kim Poulsen

  I think this is one of the most Beautiful places to visit on Lake Como. No wonder why it has featured prominently in a lot of movies. The Villa and the surrounding areas combined with the tranquility of the beautiful lake makes this such a relaxing place to visit. There is a small hike up here, unless you take a boat taxi from the village nearby so it's not particularly friendly for the disabled.

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