Villa Monastero

A villa on the Varenna lakeshore converted from an old monastery, with a nearly 2 km long narrow botanical garden running along the water among citrus trees, palms and lake views.

Villa Monastero was originally a 12th-century Cistercian convent. In the 16th century it was converted into a private villa, and in the mid-20th century it became public property. It now houses a museum and an international conference centre. The highlight is a narrow botanical garden stretching nearly 2 km along the shore, with a citrus walk, palms, agaves, cypresses and pavilions in sequence. At every turn there are views across the lake to Bellagio and the mountains of the western shore, making it an excellent spot for photographing Lake Como. Inside the villa, the museum displays 19th-century furniture and decorative arts. Tickets: the garden costs about €6–10, and the garden plus the villa museum costs about €10–14. Getting there: the villa lies at the southern end of Varenna. It is about a 5-minute walk from the ferry pier, and you can combine it with the Varenna lovers’ path and Villa Cipressi for a half-day outing. Note: the garden entrance and exit are separate, so follow the one-way route. If there is a conference event, parts of the museum may close at short notice.

Villa Monastero

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby