Villa Monastero in Varenna hosts a marvelous botanic garden, full of exotic species and represents a real gem on Lake Lecco. Visit also its House-Museum.
Villa Monastero in Varenna Italy
Botanical gardens overlooking Lake Como
Villa Monastero is a real gem on Lake Como and you cannot miss to visit it!
It is placed in Varenna and it mirrors into the eastern branch of Lake Como. It welcomes you with a breathtaking overview on the lake and mountains. From its marvelous gardens you can see the promontory of Bellagio, dividing the Lario into two branches.
The villa is placed in the middle of the garden, which extends on the lake shore from Varenna till to Fiumelatte. Its garden hosts several exotic trees species, such as African and American palms, agaves, yuccas, dracaenas, citrus trees, Lebanon cedars, cypress-lined avenues and other botanic rarities. You are embraced by colorful and scented flowers.
In this natural frame several architectural elements are mixed creating a perfect scene: balustrades, sculptures, vases, and a romantic Neoclassic temple from which you can admire the promontory of Bellagio.
The name of the villa is due to the female cloister of St. Mary, built at the end of the 12th century. Then Mornico family bought it and remained the owner until the end of the 19th century, transforming it into a patrician residence, with a series of architectural interventions, ranging from Baroque, to Neoclassicism, until the eclecticism of the end of 19th century.
Villa Monastero hosts inside perfectly preserved luxurious furniture, artworks and collections belonged to several owners during centuries and all visible in the 14 rooms completely furnished. A very refined and luxurious house museum.
Villa Monastero is worldwide known to be an important international Conference Centre, where the Nobel Prize winner Enrico Fermi held some lessons in 1954.
Opening
Winter opening: from November to February
- JUNE – JULY
gardens / any day from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
home museum / from Tuesday to Sunday and holidays from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- AUGUST
gardens / any day from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
home museum /any day from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- SEPTEMBER
gardens / any day from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
home museum /from Tuesday to Sunday and holidays from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- OCTOBER and until 3 NOVEMBER
gardens / any from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
home museum /Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- NOVEMBER 10 / 17 / 24
gardens and home museum / from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- DECEMBER: 1/ 8 / 15 / 22 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30 / 31
gardens and home museum / from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- JANUARY 2020: 1 /2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 /12 /19 / 26
gardens and home museum / from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Rates
Gardens
- full price ticket – € 5,00
- reduced-price ticket – € 3,00
for people over 65 years, groups of more 10 people, boys and girls from 12 to 18 and students from 18 to 24 - Free entrance
for kids from 0 to 11, disabled people, ICOM members, owners of Lombardy Milan Museums season ticket and residents in Varenna
Gardens and House Museum
- full price ticket – € 8,00
- reduced-price ticket – € 5,00
- free entrance
for people over 65 years, groups of more 10 people, boys and girls from 12 to 18 and students from 18 to 24 years kids from 0 to 11, disabled people, ICOM members, owners of Lombardy Milan Museums season ticket and residents in Varenna
Additional services
Photo shootings:
full day – € 1000
half day – € 700
Wedding photo shootings to be made in the Garden only: € 100,00
Where to stay in Varenna
Villa Monastero Viale Giovanni Polvani, 4 – Varenna – Lecco
