Lago di Como · Tremezzina
Tremezzina
Historic villas, botanical gardens and lakeshore villages — all just steps from Cà del Pitu.
Overlooking the luminous waters of Lake Como in the heart of Tremezzo, Villa Carlotta is one of the region's most distinguished and captivating historic residences. Created in the late seventeenth century as an aristocratic home, it continues to embody an extraordinary balance of art, history, and landscape.
Its refined museum interiors, enriched by masterpieces by Canova, Hayez, and Thorvaldsen, open onto celebrated botanical gardens where dramatic seasonal blooms, rare species, ancient trees, and unforgettable lake views create an atmosphere of rare beauty. A visit to Villa Carlotta is an immersion into one of Lake Como's most graceful and enduring expressions of elegance.
villacarlotta.it →Set on the dramatic tip of the Lavedo peninsula in Lenno, Villa del Balbianello is among the most iconic and alluring places on Lake Como. Suspended between sky, water, and exquisitely composed gardens, it possesses a timeless charm that is both intimate and unforgettable.
Evolving from a historic religious site into a residence of exceptional refinement, the villa is celebrated for its panoramic loggia and its serene, almost cinematic atmosphere — famous as the setting for Star Wars and James Bond. Reached on foot from Lenno (approx. 1 km) or by taxi boat from Lido di Lenno.
fondoambiente.it →Facing Ossuccio, bathed in the quiet light of the central lake, Isola Comacina holds a discreet yet profound beauty. The only island on Lake Como, it is a place where nature, memory, and atmosphere exist in rare equilibrium. Modest in scale yet remarkable in historical depth, the island preserves the traces of centuries of cultural presence.
Arriving by boat is part of its appeal: a gentle approach to a destination defined not by grandeur, but by character, silence, and lasting impression. The taxi boat departs from the pier at Ossuccio.
A short distance from the lake shore, on the hillside above Ossuccio, the Sacro Monte is one of the quietest and most atmospheric destinations in Tremezzina. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this baroque ensemble of fourteen seventeenth-century chapels unfolds along a shaded uphill path, offering views of the lake and Isola Comacina of extraordinary depth and beauty.
A visit to the Sacro Monte is a serene and contemplative experience — away from the busier attractions, it offers a more intimate and reflective encounter with this part of Lake Como. The ascent takes approximately 30 minutes on foot.
Villas
Among the most elegant and recognisable landmarks of Tremezzina are some of Lake Como's most enchanting historic residences. Villa Carlotta, celebrated for its extraordinary botanical garden and art collections, and Villa del Balbianello, poised between water, sky, and exquisitely designed gardens, express the essence of a landscape where cultural heritage, natural beauty, and timeless charm exist in effortless harmony.
Villages
Tremezzo, with its Parco Teresio Olivelli and elegant lakeside promenade, is the only village in the Province of Como to belong to the association of Italy's most beautiful villages. Lenno, with its natural bay and Roman heritage, is the starting point for Villa del Balbianello. Ossuccio, facing Isola Comacina, is home to the UNESCO Sacro Monte and ancient olive groves. Mezzegra-Bonzanigo surprises with fresco-adorned palazzi and a charming nativity museum.
Greenway
The apartment enjoys a particularly privileged position for those wishing to experience the Greenway del Lago di Como, one of the area's most scenic walking routes. This panoramic itinerary, approximately 10 kilometres long, partly follows the traces of the ancient Strada Regina and passes through Colonno, Sala Comacina, Tremezzina, and Griante, among olive groves, historic villages, grand villas, and sweeping lake views. Whether walked in full or explored in shorter sections, the Greenway offers an authentic and graceful way to discover Lake Como through landscape, culture, and quiet beauty. greenwaylagodicomo.com →
The only village in the Province of Como to be recognised among the Borghi più belli d'Italia — Italy's most beautiful villages — Tremezzo combines lakeside elegance with remarkable historic depth. Its promenade, graced by Villa Carlotta and its botanical gardens, has long attracted distinguished visitors: Giuseppe Verdi, Queen Victoria, and Kaiser Wilhelm II among them. The Parco Teresio Olivelli provides one of the few public lake-access points with a beach and open views towards Bellagio.
The hilly hinterland conceals five medieval hamlets — Balogno, Intignano, Rogaro, Viano, and Volesio — all reachable on foot with sweeping lake panoramas. Also worth noting: the Museo del Paesaggio del Lago di Como, and the remarkable Villa Amila (1927), designed by rationalist architect Pietro Lingeri in the form of a ship's hull.
Set in a natural bay at the foot of Monte Tremezzo, Lenno looks across to the Bellagio peninsula with quiet distinction. Its name is said to derive from the Greek "Lemnos", recalling ancient colonists. Tradition holds that Pliny the Younger owned one of his lake villas here — the "Comoedia Villa" near the Dosso di Lavedo — a claim supported by Corinthian capital fragments now held in the Museo Civico di Como.
Villa del Balbianello is reachable on foot from Lenno (approx. 1 km) or by taxi boat from Lido di Lenno. The church of Santo Stefano, the Romanesque baptistery of San Giovanni Battista, and the Acquafredda abbey are all worth a visit. The hillside hamlets of Villa, Campo, Masnate, and Molgisio — reached on ancient paths — offer exceptional views across the entire lake.
In the sheltered bay known as "Zoca de l'Oli" — the oil bay, named for its mild microclimate that sustains extensive olive groves — Ossuccio faces Isola Comacina and holds one of the highest concentrations of historical heritage on the entire lake. The Sacro Monte, with its fourteen baroque chapels from the seventeenth century, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The church of Santi Giacomo e Filippo and the sanctuary of the Beata Vergine del Soccorso preserve significant medieval works of art.
Villa Balbiano, the setting for the film House of Gucci (2021), also lies within Ossuccio's territory. The abbey of San Benedetto in Val Perlana, reached on foot through olive groves and forest, offers exceptional peace and solitude. The taxi boat to Isola Comacina departs from the Ossuccio pier.
Mezzegra is made up of the hamlets of Azzano, Giulino, and Bonzanigo. The historic centre of Bonzanigo is remarkable for its fresco-adorned palazzi — the Brentano palaces and the bishop's house among them — standing as direct evidence of the prosperity generated by trade with northern Europe. The parish church of Sant'Abbondio and the Casa dei Presepi, a small museum dedicated to nativity scenes, are both worth a visit.
In Giulino, Benito Mussolini and Claretta Petacci were executed on 28 April 1945, having spent the previous night in the Casa De Maria in Bonzanigo. A memorial cross in the hamlet still marks the exact location of the event.
Grand Hotel Tremezzo
What to know before you visit
Villa del Balbianello is the single most unforgettable sight in the area — extraordinary setting, immaculate gardens, and a remarkable history. Villa Carlotta is at its most spectacular in spring, when the botanical garden is in full bloom. The Sacro Monte di Ossuccio (UNESCO World Heritage Site) offers a quieter and more contemplative alternative. A boat trip to Isola Comacina completes the experience.
Yes — especially for Villa del Balbianello, where daily visitor numbers are limited. Advance booking through the FAI website is strongly recommended, particularly on weekends and during the peak season from April to October. For Villa Carlotta, tickets are available online through Ticketlandia, which helps avoid queues at the entrance.
Allow 2–3 hours each for Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello. Walking a section of the Greenway adds another 2–4 hours. Including the Sacro Monte and Isola Comacina, we recommend at least two full days in the area.
The villa is not accessible by car. You can walk from Lenno (approx. 1 km, 25 minutes along a scenic path) or take a taxi boat from Lido di Lenno. The Lenno ferry landing is served by regular lake services — just a few minutes from Cà del Pitu.
Villa Carlotta: approx. €15 (adults), reduced for children. Villa del Balbianello: garden only €15, garden + villa €25 (children 6–18: €11 / €17; under 5 free; FAI members free). Prices may vary — please check the official websites before visiting.
Bus line C10 (Como–Menaggio–Colico) connects all villages in Tremezzina (ASF timetables →). The ferry landings at Tremezzo and Lenno offer regular connections to Bellagio (10–20 min), Varenna, Como, and the eastern shore (navigazionelaghi.it →). A car is not necessary for most excursions in the area.
