Excursion tips

Magnificent villas with botanical gardens on Lake Como

Lake Como has so much to offer, not just in terms of scenery: Magnificent villas with stately gardens line the shores of this idyllic lake. Many of the impressive magnificent buildings with their Mediterranean parks are open to visitors. An absolute must, not only for all hobby gardeners, but for every vacationer on Lake Como.

When you book a holiday home, many holiday home rental companies will give you the entrance tickets to visit the dream villas with botanical gardens.

Overview: Villas and Botanical Gardens around Lake Como

Bellagio: Villa Melzi d’Eril

Neoclassical villa built in 1810 in the middle of an impressive garden directly on Lake Como

Bergamo: Orto Botanico di Bergamo Lorenzo Rota

Botanical garden with an area of 2,400 m² and over 1,200 plant species as well as a breathtaking view over the roofs of the city

Bormio: Giardino Botanico Alpino Rezia

Botanical garden at an altitude of 1350 metres, with the aim of preserving the botanical diversity of the region

Chiavenna: Marmitte dei Giganti

A large park that is ideal for mountain walks and offers great geomorphological views

Chiavenna: Palazzo Vertemate Franchi

A Renaissance palace from the second half of the 16th century with an orchard, vineyard and chestnut wood behind the palace

Casalzuigno (Varese): Villa della Porta Bozzolo

Former 16th century country estate with large park and a stately main house in rococo style

Cernobbio: Villa d’Este

16th century palace with famous Renaissance garden

Lenno: Villa del Balbianello

Villa from 1787 on the top of the peninsula Lavedo and several times used as a film set (James Bond, Star Wars, and others)

Menaggio (Loveno): Villa Mylius Vigoni

The villa, bought by the merchant and banker Heinrich Mylius in 1829, now serves as a German-Italian centre for European dialogue

Milano: Orto Botanico di Brera

Botanical garden in the centre of Milan, now part of the university. The Astronomical Museum right next door is also worth a visit

Monza: Roseto Niso Fumagalli

Beautiful rose garden in front of the royal palace Villa Reale in Monza

Tremezzo: Villa Carlotta

The 18th-century summer residence, which now serves as a museum, is surrounded by huge parkland

Varenna: Villa Monastero

The building was originally built as a monastery and was restored and converted into a villa in 1645. The estate has a large botanical garden with a huge variety of plants

Vertemate con Minoprio: Fondazione Minoprio Villa Raimondi

Villa built in 1793 with beautiful parkland

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Botanical gardens on Lake Como

Botanical gardens all over the world offer visitors a deep insight into the extensive plant world of our earth. At any time of year, visitors can admire beautiful and unique flowers, green plants and woody plants from all parts of the world, including the Asian and American continents.

Not only in spring, when nature awakens to new life, but also in summer, when many plants are in full bloom and develop a splendour of colour that is overwhelming, a visit to a botanical garden becomes an experience of a very special kind.

A visit to the villas and botanical gardens on Lake Como is always worthwhile. Let yourself be enchanted by the splendour and wonderfully sweet scents of this world.

Perhaps the amateur gardeners among you will also find inspiration to turn their own garden into a little paradise or to embellish it a bit more, because some of the plants cultivated in the botanical gardens also feel at home in our latitudes. Just take a look.