Historic Villas on Lake Como

From upper-class Romans to Renaissance noblemen and Belle Epoque heiresses to Hollywood stars, Lake Como has been the destination of choice for pleasure-seekers for millennia. Many of these illustrious visitors—like our own Count Passalacqua—built lavish villas on our shores, working with the best architects and craftsmen of their time to one-up each other with ever more luxurious homes. Today, these historic villas on Lake Como have become sought-after cultural sites in their own right. Some of these properties and their lovingly landscaped gardens have become museums, conference centers or hotels, while others are in private hands. For a front row seat to the best Lake Como villas, whether they are open to the public or not, we recommend booking an excursion on one of our vintage or modern lake cruisers. Climb aboard and let us give you a taste of what Lake Como’s villas have to offer!

Villa Passalaqua

We’ll start with our very own Villa Passalacqua in the charming village of Moltrasio, which was built by the Count of the same name in 1787. Renowned Milanese architect Carlo Felice Soave was the mastermind behind its stunning terrazzo floors, ornate stucco and fresco work as well as the terraced gardens leading down to the lake shore, which have earned the praise of such famous guests as opera composer Vincenzo Bellini and British statesman Winston Churchill. After acquiring the property in 2018, the De Santis family spent three years renovating and reimagining this historic Lake Como villa as the home away from home of our guests’ dreams with an atmosphere that is as laid-back as it is luxury. Whether you indulge in the steam bath in our ancient underground tunnels or breakfast on a boiled egg straight from our henhouse, whether you play a game of bocce or just lounge by the pool under a La DoubleJ-designed parasol, Passalacqua celebrates life’s simpler pleasures in the lost art of travel known as villeggiatura. 

Villa del Balbianello

Heading north from Moltrasio through the  section of the lake known as the “Primo Bacino”, we pass a number of private villas on Lake Como’s shore (including one owned by a certain Hollywood celebrity in Laglio!) before we round the Lavedo peninsula. This hilly promontory jutting out into the lake is home to Villa del Balbianello, probably the most recognizable of all Lake Como architecture. There is no experience quite like arriving by boat at this stunning property, but there are many more treasures to discover once you head ashore—many of which bequeathed to the Italian state by the most recent owner, eccentric explorer and Italian aristocrat Count Guido Monzino. The museum-worthy prehistoric art he assembled and his one-of-a-kind collection of reverse paintings on glass are impressive, but it is the souvenirs of his ambitious adventures that really stand out: the tusk of an arctic narwhal, a dog sled from his North Pole expedition and vintage outerwear (that seems rather inadequate by today’s standards!). Outside, the single evergreen ficus vine that climbs the columns of the Loggia and a beautifully sculpted umbrella tree are among the horticultural gems of this romantic garden. Check the website for information on concerts and other events—like the annual nativity exhibit during the Christmas season.

Villa Sola Cabiati

We continue along the western shore past Villa la Cassinella, one of the more understated villas on Lake Como and a frequent love nest for Wallace Simpson and the abdicated King Edward. A little further on, standing proudly above a monumental double staircase on the water is Villa Sola Cabiati, which dates back to the 17th century and is still in the hands of the Dukes of Serbelloni. We are proud to manage this historic Lake Como villa on behalf of the Fondazione Serbelloni, welcoming guests for exclusive events or extended vacations. The Italianate gardens out front and the private pool and barbecue area out back offer the tranquility implied in the name “Villulae Quietem”, which the original owner had inscribed above the entrance. Inside, the interiors boast six luxurious suites, living and dining rooms with exquisite stucco and fresco decorations as well as priceless heirlooms and antiques (including a bed that once belonged to Napoleon!). 

Villa Carlotta 

The cruise continues past our sister property, Grand Hotel Tremezzo, the first of its kind at the turn of the 20th century, imminently recognizable with parasols in our signature orange on the T Beach and the Water on the Water pool floating just off the shore. Next door is the renowned Villa Carlotta, a turn-of-the-17th-century palace built by an Italian nobleman and bought by the Princess of Prussia for her daughter Charlotte, otherwise known as “Carlotta”, in 1850. Charlotte’s marriage with a dashing Grand Duke is a legendary love story, perhaps the inspiration for some of the romantic art waiting behind the villa’s imposing white façade (like Hayez’s swoon-worthy Last Kiss of Romeo and Juliet). But it is the Villa Carlotta gardens that have been the main attraction since the first travelers left on the Grand Tour in the 1700s. Prepare for an unparalleled mix of man-made and natural beauty, with fantastical sculptures, exotic plants and panoramic lake views vying for your attention around every corner, particularly during the fireworks of color during the rhododendron bloom in April and May! Check the website for information on exhibitions, concerts and other events at Villa Carlotta—like the family open days.

Villa Melzi

Before we cross over to the Bellagio peninsula, your captain will point out Villa Margherita in Griante, built by Giulio Ricordi of the music publishing and record label of the same name. Legend has it his star artist Giuseppe Verdi was a frequent guest at this Lake Como villa and even wrote some of La Traviata’s most famous arias there. After docking at Loppia harbor—a lot quieter the hustle and bustle of neighboring Bellagio!—you will have the opportunity to wander through the lovingly landscaped gardens of Villa Melzi on your way to the town center. Built in the early 19th century by Count Melzi d’Eril, the neoclassical villa is not open to the public, but you can visit the family chapel just after the Loppia gate with the tomb of the original owner. Don’t miss the old Orangerie, which houses a museum with artifacts and artwork from the Napoleonic era as well as some Melzi d’Eril family keepsakes. As you make your way through the gardens, you can stroll along the shore in the shade of the plane trees, admire the Japanese gardens complete with a bamboo forest and experience the cool mystery of the rocaille grotto.