Villa Balbianello Review

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Villa Balbianello

  • Address: Il Dosso d'Avedo, Tremezzo, 22019
  • Phone: 0344/56110

Fodor's 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. Check with the Como tourism office (031/269712) for hours. Visits are usually restricted to the gardens, but if you plan in advance it's also possible to tour the villa itself. You pay EUR 30 for a guide—regardless of how many are in your party—and an additional EUR 5 entrance fee.

  • Cost: Gardens EUR 5
  • Open: Mid-Mar-mid-Nov., Tues. and Thurs.-Sun. 10-6. Last entry to gardens 5:30. Nov. 4-mid-Nov., pedestrian entrance is open Tues. and Thurs.-Sun., otherwise acesss is only by boat
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