The Gardens of Villa Melzi d'Eril, among the most beautiful gardens in Italy and Europe , extend along the east/west shore of Lake Como, in Bellagio, harmoniously inserted into the hilly landscape between the two branches of the Lario.
Villa Melzi d'Eril , commissioned by Francesco Melzi d'Eril , Duke of Lodi and vice-president of the First Italian Republic at the time of Napoleon , stands majestically in Bellagio .
The project was entrusted to the talented architect Giocondo Albertolli , while the works took place precisely between 1808 and 1810 .
Characterized by neoclassical , the villa externally stands out for its sobriety, with few decorative architectural elements, focusing mainly on the windows which, with regular succession, create simple decorative motifs.
Gardens of Villa Melzi
The park of Villa Melzi , curated by the architect Luigi Canonica and the botanist Luigi Villoresi , known for their work in the Monza Park , presents itself as a landscape masterpiece.
The land has been expertly adapted with terraces and small bumps, while the trees , carefully selected, range from traditional to exotic essences, reflecting the taste of the time.
Sculptures , such as the Egyptian basalt statue of Sekhnetz , goddess of war, and a suggestive sculptural group depicting the meeting between Dante and Beatrice , are distributed harmoniously throughout the park.
The Japanese pond , with aquatic plants , water lilies , maples and Japanese cedars , adds a touch of exoticism. During the months of April and May , the park comes alive with rich blooms of azaleas and rhododendrons , creating colorful meadows and slopes that surround the villa.
Of particular charm is the small chapel located on the edge of the lake, helping to give Villa Melzi d'Erilpicturesque and enchanting atmosphere .
Villa Melzi: timetables and prices
THE VISIT The visit includes the chapel, the small museum and the park where wonderful groups of azaleas and rhododendrons alternate with magnificent statues.
SEASONAL OPENING FROM 25 MARCH TO THE END OF OCTOBER Every day from 10.00 to 19.00 Ticket office closes at 18.30
ENTRANCE TICKET PRICES
Adults : 10.00 euros
Children up to 11 years: free
Family (2 adults + 2 children up to 18 years old) 20.00 euros
Groups of minimum 15 people: 8.00 euros
School groups : 6.50 euros / free for teachers and companions
By car, from Como, follow the signs for the SS583 state road towards Bellagio. From Lecco, however, follow the signs for the SS583-SP583 state road towards Bellagio. Near the Gardens, it is possible to park at the car park on Lungolario Manzoni or in the nearby hamlet of Loppia , just a few minutes away on foot. For further information on parking, click here .
By train, on the route from Zurich to Como, there are trains that leave every hour from Zurich central station . If you come from Milan, you can choose the Milan-Como-Bellagio starting from Milan Centrale or Milan-Como from the Ferrovie Nord station for Como and then continue by boat or bus to Bellagio.
By bus or boat, for those who want to reach Bellagio from Como, there are two travel options:
From the Como station square, it is possible to take advantage of very frequent bus services to Bellagio (10 trips per day).
From Como train station , you can reach the boat terminal in 10 minutes. From there, it is possible to take a boat or hydrofoil to Bellagio with frequent trips.