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Villa del Balbianello
The Villa del Balbianello, in the province of Como, looks like a real jewel, known for the magnificence of the structure
At the very tip of the Dosso di Lavedo, a wooded promontory on the shores of Lake Como, is the Villa del Balbianello, built in the early 18th century, famous not only for its beauty but also for having hosted many wellknown intellectuals in exile during the Italian Risorgimento.
Commissioned by Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini and built over the remains of an ancient Franciscan monastery (although the facade of the original church is still intact), after the Cardinal’s death it passed down to Count Luigi Porro Lambertenghi.
The Count was a very active supporter of the Unification of Italy and turned the villa into a hub for intellectuals who supported the Cause, even hiring the famous author Silvio Pellico as a tutor for his children.
The superb Villa has been managed by the FAI, the Italian National Trust, since 1988, donated by its last owner, entrepreneur and explorer Guido Monzino, who wished it to be thrown open to the public.
Open: January, March-December
Opening times: variable
Admission: only paid guided tours
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