Villa del Balbianello
An 18th-century villa and terraced gardens on the tip of Lavedo Point, featured in Star Wars: Episode II and Casino Royale.
Villa del Balbianello sits on Lavedo Point (Punta di Lavedo) near the western shore town of Lenno, surrounded by water on three sides. Cardinal Durini built it in 1787 on the foundations of a Franciscan monastery. Its last owner was Italian explorer Guido Monzino, who led the Italian expedition to the summit of Everest in 1973. In 1988 he donated it to the Italian environmental foundation FAI. Highlights include the Loggia Durini, a covered terrace draped in climbing figs, and terraced gardens with umbrella-trimmed plane trees and lake views. Inside the villa, Monzino's expedition collection is on display (guided tour required). Scenes from Star Wars: Episode II, including the wedding of Amidala and Anakin, and the sanatorium scenes in Casino Royale were filmed here. Tickets: the garden costs about €15, and a garden plus villa guided tour costs about €25 (free for FAI members). Booking on the official website is recommended. Getting there: a water taxi from Lenno dock takes about 10 minutes, or you can walk about 1 km from Lenno along a forest path, which is open only on Tuesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Note: the villa is usually closed on Mondays and Wednesdays (except public holidays). Check the FAI website for current hours.
Opening hours
Approx. mid-March to early November, 10:00–18:00; closed Mondays and Wednesdays (except public holidays)
Nearby sights
- Isola Comacina
- Sacro Monte di Ossuccio
- Villa Carlotta
- Greenway del Lago di Como
- Villa Melzi Gardens
- Menaggio
- Bellagio
- Orrido di Nesso