Villa Del Balbianello Lake Como

Villa del Balbianello was used as the outdoor filming location for parts of Star Wars: Episode II, where it doubled as Naboo. It also served as James Bond’s Swiss clinic in Casino Royale. Both productions chose it because it photographs as a fantasy even though it is entirely real: an 18th-century loggia on a promontory headland above Lake Como, with terraced gardens stepping down in tiers to the water and the central reach of the lake framed between carved balustrades.

The Villa and Gardens

The current building dates from the 1780s, built by Cardinal Angelo Durini over an earlier Franciscan monastery. The Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano (FAI, Italy’s heritage trust) has owned it since 1988. The interior rooms, decorated by the villa’s last private owner Guido Monzino who co-led the first Italian ascent of Everest in 1973, include an unexpectedly interesting collection of exploration equipment and navigation instruments.

The terraced gardens work with the steep promontory slope: each terrace is planted differently, connected by flights of stone steps. The end of the headland at the loggia gives a 180-degree panorama over the lake; arrive at opening time because it gets crowded by midday in summer.

Open April through October, closed Mondays and Wednesdays. Entry around EUR 16 for gardens and interior. Book via fondoambiente.it in advance for summer.

Getting There

Plan the access carefully. From Como city, ferries run the western shore in about 1.5 hours. Tremezzo (the adjacent village) is a 2-kilometre walk along the lake path. The villa is not directly accessible by car; park in Lenno and walk 15-20 minutes on the lakeside path, or take the FAI’s small boat shuttle from the water-level dock.

Combining with Nearby Villas

Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo has famous botanical gardens, spectacular in April and May for azaleas and camellias. Villa Melzi in Bellagio (20 minutes by ferry) is less visited and very beautiful in late spring.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo (opened 1910, not significantly updated in character) is the romantic lakefront accommodation choice. May and September are the right months: same view, significantly lower prices than July and August.

The ferry system between western shore villages runs via navigazionelaghi.it; check the timetable before planning a day trip as service reduces in autumn.