Villa Monastero in Varenna

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 - Varenna - Lago di Como

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 12^th century. Then Mornico family bought it and remained the owner until the end of the 19^th 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 19^th century.
Villa Monastero is also its House Museum which 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.