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Villa del Balbianello Photos

Trip Over to Lenno from Como

An Explorer’s Paradise – Villa del Balbianello

We had been told this villa was magnificent to visit by Milan, our driver from Como Limousines on the drive in from Milan to Como, and having seen Villa del Balbianello standing majestically on a beautifully terraced peninsula as the ferry passed by on a trip on Lake Como the previous week, it was firmly put on the list of things to see.

The ferry trip from Como to Lenno takes 30 minutes on the fast hydrofoil, or a relaxing 90 minutes on the regular ferry sipping coffee, or wine, from the ferry’s bar, taking photos as you pass the many magnificent villas on the edge of the lake and pull in to all the village ferry stops along the way. Then Villa del Balbianello comes into view. The ferry passes close by the Villa as it turns in towards the Lenno ferry wharf.

After getting off the ferry turn left and follow the road around to the path leading up to the Villa, stopping for lunch in one of the beautiful lakeside restaurants along the way. Then wind your way up the well sign posted path through the forest to the main gates. Or you can arrive at the villa by boat on a private tour or water taxi, you will pass the water shuttle on the way to the woodland path. It is possible to visit the gardens without a guide, but to go inside the buildings there are regular guided tours to join.

Villa del Balbianello was built in 1787 on the site of a Franciscan monastery, the towers you can see from the lake are the campanili of the church. The cardinal left the villa to his nephew, who later sold it to the Arconati family, who over a few generations transformed it into a serene summer residence. But as the family started to die off the buildings fell into a state of neglect until American businessman Butler Ames bought it in 1919 and renovated the villa and its garden. In 1974, Ames’s heirs sold the villa to the leader of the first Italian expedition to climb Mt Everest, Milanese businessman and explorer, Guido Monzino who filled it with rich collections, including artifacts acquired on his expeditions to the North Pole, China and South America.




Guido Monzino, who died in 1988, asked for his ashes to be placed in a little out building in the grounds overlooking his beloved lake, and he left the villa to the National Trust of Italy who set about cataloguing his collections, maps and books, then opened the villa as a museum. (Thank you Guido). The guide can show secret passage ways through the building that lead down to a waiting boat in the boat shelter, built in case a hasty escape was required, from what, or who??? All very James Bond……….

Monzino was very particular about the garden and the view, all the large plane trees pruned to look like very ornate candelabras and the old oak trees are trimmed into a mushroom dome shape so the lake can be seen from all windows in the villa. He has a snake on his coat of arms so some of the vines growing on the building are trimmed to resemble snakes.

Villa del Balbianello was the hospital in Casino Royale where James Bond (Daniel Craig) recuperated after being tortured in 2006. He should have been more decisive about whether he wanted that last Martini shaken or stirred, he recovered well though and – spoiler alert – he got the girl and off they went to have a fabulous time in Venice!?!

Book a tour on your Trip Over to Lake Como

Itinerary for Trip Over to Italy – Milan, Como and Venice

Qantas flight (Emirates code share) to Milan (Malpensa) from Sydney via Dubai
Stayed in Milan, Airbnb, for a week before going to Como
Picked up in Milan by Como Limousines and driven to Como
Stayed in Como, Airbnb, for 3 weeks
Picked up in Como by Como Limousines and driven to Venice
In Venice, water taxi to Al Ponte Antico Hotel for 3 nights and water taxi back
Picked up in Venice by Como Limousines and driven back to Como
Picked up in Como by Como Limousines and driven back to Milan (Malpensa) Airport
Qantas flight (Emirates code share) to Sydney via Dubai

Looking down Barrack St, peeking between the Burberry Building and the old Sydney GPO, now the Fullerton Hotel, at Martin Place getting set up for the Christmas markets. . . . #christmastree #christmasmarket #martinplace #barrackstreet #martinplacechristmastree #starontop #sydneycbd #sydneychristmas #sydneylife #sydneyshopping #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydneylocal #sydneyhistoricalbuildings #seetheworldthroughmylens #australianflag #explorethecityyoulivein
The Christmas tree in the QVB is in place rising up into the dome. . . . . #qvb #queenvictoriabuilding #christmastree #christmasdecorations #christmasdecorationseverywhere #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneycbd #sydneyhistoricalbuildings #sydneychristmas #shoppinginsydney #christmasready #sydney #sydneylocal #seekandyoushallfind
The Martin Place Christmas tree is set up, but I am so over seeing it every year with the red and green beach ball look, surely we can have something different occasionally. Looks great for visitors, but if you live here........same old, same old...... . . . #martinplace #martinplacechristmastree #sydneycbd #sydneylife #sydney #sydneyhistoricalbuildings #sydneylocal #christmasinsydney #christmasiscoming #sydneylunchtime #fullertonhotelsydney #seetheworldthroughmylens
Another of my favourites at this year's Sculpture by the Sea, nice and calming on a day of torrential rain, followed by wild winds, but as it was the last weekend of the exhibition I had to brave it! . . #sculpturebythesea #sculptureart #sculptureinthepark #artinpublicplaces #arttherapy #artinstallation #artinsydney #sydneybeaches #sydneyweekend #sydneybythesea #sydneylife #sydney #sydneylocal #sydneywalks #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmylens #travellerau #traveladdict #traveltheworldwithme
Sydney on weekdays - beautiful blue sky, blue water, I'm settling back into Sydney after returning from London, walked home from work across Sydney Harbour Bridge, I then cheat and catch the bus up the hill from here!!🤣🌞 . . #sydneyharbour #sydneyferries #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneycbd #sydneylocal #sydney #sydneyinspring #sydneywalks #walkinghomefromwork #bluewater #bluesky #waitingforthebus #perfectday #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #myhometown #travellerau
The Sculpture Walk at Walsh Bay, with Sydney Harbour Bridge peaking over the top of Wharf 3 that houses the Wharf Theatre and the Sydney Dance Company. . . . #walshbaysydney #walshbay #walshbaysculpturewalk #sydneyharbourbridge #wharftheatre #sydneydancecompany #artinpublicplaces #artinthestreets #arttherapy #artinstallation #sculptureart #sculptureintherocks #sculpture #explorethecityyoulivein #traveltheworldwithme #travellerau #sydneylife
And the little whatever it is climbed higher and higher, leaving longer and longer trails in the sky over Sydney!! . . . #planetrails #planetrailsinthesky #abovesydney #hydeparksydney #hydepark #lunchtimeinsydney #blueskyandsunshine #sydneycbd #lunchinthepark #walkinthepark #freashairandsunshine #sydney #sydneyaustralia #myhometown
This is the life, a magnificent place to live on the River Thames up past Richmond on the way to Hampton Court. They've got the house, the garden, the boat house and a narrow boat tied up out the front🌞 . . . #riverthames #lifeontheriver #dreamhome #boathouse #narrowboat #thamesriverboats #thamesrivercruise #westminstertohamptoncourt #daytripfromlondon #upriver #travelbyboat #outonthewater #londonlife #londontravel #londontrip #londondaysout
All Christmas ready in the Strand Arcade in Sydney!! . . . #strandarcade #strandarcadesydney #christmasinsydney #christmasdecorationseverywhere #christmasdecorations #christmasiscoming #startingtolookalotlikechristmas #shoppinginsydney #sydneyhistoricalbuildings #sydneylocal #myhometown #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneycbd #sydneyshopping #sydney #sydney_insta #seekandyoushallfind
Is it the David Jones Flower Show or the Barbie Flower Show? All very pink! . . #pinktrellis #pinkflowers #davidjones #davidjonesflowershow #sydneyinspring #whiteflowers #elizabethstreetstore #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneycbd #sydneyshopping #sydneylocal #sydneylunchtime #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmylens
Looking down King Street in the Sydney CBD, from York Street on Sydney winter morning. . . . . #kingstreet #yorkstreet #sydneycbd #peakhour #onthewaytowork #onthewaytoworkpicoftheday #sydneyinwinter #sydneyhistoricalbuildings #sydneylife #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydney_insta #wintersun #baretrees #explorethecityyoulivein #seetheworldthroughmylens #traveltheworldwithme #myhometown
In Flat Rock Creek, just before it flows under Tunks Park and out into Sydney Harbour, this fallen tree has been there since a storm a while ago. It looks like it has a creature resting its head on the tree. Must be the Flat Rock Gully monster! . . #tunkspark #tunksparksydney #flatrockgully #flatrockcreek #fallentree #relectiononwater #walkinthepark #rivermonster #restingonatree #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydneywaterways #sydneyharbourwalks #explorethecityyoulivein #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #seekandyoushallfind
A big red floral something at the David Jones Spring Flower Show. I really have no idea what it is🤣 . . #davidjonesflowershow #davidjones #elizabethstreetstore #redflowers #pinkflowers #diorbags #shoppinginsydney #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydney #sydneyshopping #sydneylocal #sydneyinspring #sydneycbd #floralthing #explorethecityyoulivein
Deep blue hydrangeas at the David Jones Spring Flower Show at the Elizabeth Street store. . . #davidjonesflowershow #davidjones #bluehydrangeas #goldscreen #flowershow #blueflowers #pinkflowers #whiteflowers #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydney_insta #sydneycbd #sydneyshopping #sydneylocal #sydneyinspring #explorethecityyoulivein
As the days are getting longer, walking home from work over the Harbour Bridge is a thing....sometimes!! This is the old Sydney GPO and clock tower, now a hotel, of course! . . . #sydneygpo #sydney #sydneycbd #walkinghome #streetsofsydney #yorkstreet #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #sydneyaustralia #explorethecityyoulivein #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #travellers #historicsydney
Just flying in for a close up time check on the Sydney Town Hall clock tower. The clock face looks like a mini Big Ben one! . . . #sydneytownhallclocktower #sydneytownhall #townhallsydney #seagull #sydneytime #timeoutsydney #travellerau #mysecretsydney #sydneyinwinter #sydneycbd #sydney #sydneylife #timecheck #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #historicsydney #myhometown
Approaching Richmond Lock on the way up the River Thames to Hampton Court. Ready to raise us up to the river level for the next part of our trip. Click on thevlink in the bio to see more pics and read about the cruise up river from Westminster to Hampton Court. . . . . #richmondlock #richmondlockandfootbridge #richmondlockandweir #riverthames #thamesrivercruise #thamesriverboats #outontheriver #travelbyboat #daytripfromlondon #londonlife #londonlandmarks #mysecretlondon #londontrip #londontravel #traveltheworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmylens #seekandyoushallfind
The White Swan pub in Twickenham, just past Richmond on our way from Westminster to Hampton Court on the River Thames, on the Heathrow flight path! See more pictures and read about this day trip from London by clicking the link to my website in the bio. . . #whiteswan #whiteswantwickenham #ontheedgeoftheriver #thamesriverboats #upriver #westminstertohamptoncourt #daytripfromlondon #london #londonlife #ifoundparadise #londontravel #londontrip #londonpics #londonsights #mysecretlondon #mysecretlondonphoto #travelbyboat #seekandyoushallfind #solotravel #traveladdict
Inside the Ricmond Lock, gates closed and the water starting to flood in to raise us up to the water level on the next section of the Thames on our way from Westminster to Hampton Court. There are more pics and info on my website. Click the website link in the bio. . . . #richmondlock #richmondlockbridge #richmondlockandfootbridge #richmondlockandweir #thamesriverboats #thamesriverboatservices #thamesriverfinds #riverthames #daytripfromlondon #traveladdict #londonpics #londonlife #london #londontravel #londontrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme
This looks like it is upside down, but no, these flowers are all hanging from the ceiling in David Jones Elizabeth Street store at the Spring Flower Show. . . #davidjonesflowershow #davidjones #elizabethstreetstore #flowersontheceiling #whiteflowers #pinkflowers #sydneylife #sydney #sydneyshopping #sydneylocal #sydneyinspring #sydneylunchtime #springflowershow #sydneycbd #seetheworldthroughmylens
On the Thames River Boat from Westminster to Hampton Court, after pasing through Richmond Lock we went past the pictuesque Richmond Upon Thames. To see more pictures from this day trip from London, click on the link to my website, in the bio. . . . #richmonduponthamesuk #riverthames #westminstertohamptoncourt #cruisingupriver #outonthewater #travelbyboat #daytripfromlondon #londontrip #exploringlondon #greaterlondon #seetheworldthroughmylens #traveltheworldwithme #travelinspiration #traveltherapy #londonlife
David Jones Spring Flower Show in the Elizabeth Street store in the Sydney CBD. . . . #davidjones #davidjonesflowershow @davidjonesstore #chanelbag #orchids #pinkflowers #yellowflowers #notchelseaflowershow #sydneyinspring #shoppinginsydney #explorethecityyoulivein #seekandyoushallfind #sydneylife #sydneycbd #sydneyaustralia #sydneylocal
The very stylish looking Louis Vuitton store on the corner of King & George Streets in Sydney. . . . #louisvuitton #louisvuittonsydney #louisvuittonsydneymaison #streetsofsydneycity #sydneycbd #sydneylife #sydneylunchtime #sydney #sydneyfashion #streetpics #seetheworldthroughmylens
Christmas has come to Sydney!! The Strand Arcade always beautiful anyway, now dressed up in it's finest festive kit. . . . #strandarcade #strandarcadesydney #christmasinsydney #christmasiscoming #christmasdecorations #christmasdecorationseverywhere #christmasdecoratingideas #festiveseason #sydneyhistoricalbuildings #historicalbuildingsenrichourlives #shoppinginsydney #sydneylunchtime #sydneylocal #myhometown #traveladdict #seetheworldthroughmylens
David Jones Spring Flower Show, at the Elizabeth St store in Sydney CBD. . . #davidjonesflowershow #davidjones #elizabethstreet #orchids #yellowflowers #pinkflowers #celine #dior #pinkdress #sydneylife #sydneyshopping #sydneyaustralia #sydneycbd #seekandyoushallfind #sydneylocal #sydneyinspring #neverstopexploring #explorethecityyoulivein #lunchtimewalks #seetheworldthroughmylens
Another beautiful survivor from the best period of Sydney's architecture, the Strand Arcade is a lovely example of how a shopping mall used to be! . . . . #strandarcade #strandarcadesydney #sydneyarchitecture #sydneyhistoricalbuildings #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #historicsydney #sydneycbd #georgestreet #sydneylife #sydneyinwinter #sydney #sydneyaustralia #travellerau #traveltheworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmylens #myhometown
Westfield is rolling out Christmas to get everyone in the mood...... . . . . #christmasinsydney #christmasdecorationseverywhere #christmasdecoratingideas #christmasiscoming #christmastrees #christmaslights #christmaslightseverywhere #shoppinginsydney #sydneyshopping #sydneylocal #sydneylunchtime #sydneylife #sydney
I love this building in Sydney's CBD. Before Ralph Lauren moved in, it was the Chanel shop, but they have moved up the road one block with Dior, Valentino and Hermes. . . . #ralphlaurem #kingstreet #pittstreet #sydneycbd #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #streetsofsydney #sydneylocal #sydneyhistoricalbuildings #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneyarchitecture #sydneylunchtime #sydney #sydneyshopping #shoppinginsydney #explorethecityyoulivein #myhometown

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