Villa Melzi, Bellagio

Explore serene gardens with native and exotic plants, sculptures, and a Japanese pond, all set gracefully along the picturesque Lake Como shoreline.

Villa Melzi d’Eril stands on the Bellagio shore of Lake Como and was built between 1808 and 1810 for Francesco Melzi d’Eril. The villa itself is not open to visitors, but the landscaped gardens are the chief attraction, laid out by Luigi Canonica and Luigi Villoresi. They combine native and exotic planting with sculpture and a Japanese pond in a setting that unfolds gently beside the lake. The estate has an easy elegance and a strong sense of place.