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 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.
Villa Monastero / Opening 2020
- October (until November 1st): from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- November: 8th – 15th – 22nd – 29th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- December: 6th – 7th – 8th – 13th – 20th – 26th – 27th – 28th – 29th – 30th – 31st from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Villa Monastero / Tickets
NOTE – Tickets can be bought until 30 minutes before the closure time
Villa Monastero Gardens
- € 8,00 for adults
- € 5,00 for senior visitors over the age of 65, groups of more than 10 people, Italian Touring Club members, residents in the province of Lecco
- € 3,50 for young people between 12 and 18 and students between 18 and 24
- FREE for children of 11 and under, disabled visitors, ICOM members, Abbonamento Musei Lombardia Milano holders, residents in Varenna, journalists
Villa Monastero Gardens and House Museum
- € 10,00 for adults
- € 7,00 for senior visitors over the age of 65, groups of more than 10 people, Italian Touring Club members, residents in the province of Lecco
- € 5,00 for young people between 12 and 18 and students between 18 and 24
- FREE for children of 11 and under, disabled visitors, ICOM members, Abbonamento Musei Lombardia Milano holders, residents in Varenna, journalists
Cumulative tickets
Villa Monastero Gardens + Villa Cipressi Botanical Garden*
- € 15,00 for adults
- € 9,00 senior visitors over the age of 65, groups of more than 10 people, Italian Touring Club members, residents in the province of Lecco
- € 6,00 for young people between 12 and 18 and students between 18 and 24
*purchasable only on the opening days of the Villa Cipressi garden, as follows:
- Extraordinary openings for the winter period from 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
January 2020: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6
February 2020: 9 – 16 – 23 - Summer period until 3 November: every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Villa Monastero Gardens and House Museum+ Villa Cipressi Botanical Garden*
- € 17,00 for adults
- € 11,00 senior visitors over the age of 65, groups of more than 10 people, Italian Touring Club members, residents in the province of Lecco
- € 7,50 for young people between 12 and 18 and students between 18 and 24
*purchasable only on the opening days of the Villa Cipressi garden, as follows:
- Extraordinary openings for the winter period from 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
January 2020: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6
February 2020: 9 – 16 – 23 - Summer period until 3 November: every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Villa Monastero / Additional services
- Commercial photo shootings, video, movies and fictions
IN THE GARDEN: € 1000,00 (whole day), € 700,00 (half day)
IN THE HOUSE MUSEUM (in closing days only): € 2000,00 (whole day), € 1400,00 (half day)
- Wedding, pre-wedding and non commercial photo shootings
(to be made in the Garden only): € 250,00.
For all kind of photo shootings, reservation is compulsory. For information and reservations, contact us at [email protected]
Wedding photo shootings to be made in the Garden only: € 100,00
Your stay in Varenna / Choose your accommodation
Villa Monastero: where is it?
Viale Giovanni Polvani, 4 – Varenna – Lecco
Articolo aggiornato il 1 October 2020 da eccoLecco