Official Information
Official site: https://fondoambiente.it/villa-del-balbianello-eng
Online tickets: https://ticket.fondoambiente.it/events/villa-del-balbianello/villa-del-balbianello
Address: Via Guido Monzino 1, 22016 Tremezzina (CO), Italy
Map: View on Google Maps
Opening Hours
Open seasonally from roughly mid March to early November, usually from 10:00 to 18:00 with last entrance to the gardens in late afternoon. Closed most Mondays and in winter, except for occasional special openings. Advance booking is required or strongly recommended via the official site.
Villa del Balbianello is one of Lake Como’s most theatrical villas, perched on the tip of the wooded Lavedo promontory with terraced gardens dropping straight into the water. The 18th century mansion was transformed in the 20th century by its last owner, Italian explorer and businessman Count Guido Monzino, who filled its rooms with mountaineering memorabilia, maps and travel artifacts. After his death, the property passed to the FAI, Italy’s National Trust, which now opens both the gardens and villa interior to ticketed visitors.
Most travelers first encounter Balbianello through cinema: it appears in films such as Star Wars: Episode II and Casino Royale. In person, the setting feels even more cinematic. Manicured hedges, loggias wrapped in climbing plants and carefully framed views of the lake and surrounding mountains make the gardens perfect for slow wandering and photography. The villa interior, accessible on guided tours, preserves Monzino’s eclectic collections alongside more traditional period furnishings.
Because access is limited by the narrow site, tickets and time slots are controlled. You can reach the villa by a pleasant walk (around 20 to 25 minutes uphill) from Lenno or by frequent taxi boat services from nearby towns. Buying tickets in advance through FAI is highly advisable, especially in high season, weekends and on days when weddings or events are scheduled.
A standard visit that includes a guided tour of the villa plus time in the gardens typically takes two to three hours. Balbianello pairs well with other mid lake sights such as Villa Carlotta or a ferry loop between Bellagio, Menaggio and Varenna. As a paid attraction it is not cheap, but for many visitors it becomes the defining memory of Lake Como: a carefully staged mix of landscape, architecture, and Italian romanticism.