The first glimpse of Villa del Balbianello from the ferry as it glides across Lake Como is a stunning sight set to capture the imagination. The eighteenth century villa stands majestically at the tip of the town of Lenno, surrounded by manicured trees and gardens.
View from the lake
Built in 1787 for the Cardinal Angelo Durini on the site of a Franciscan monastery, the villa is on the north-west side of the lake, about 27 km north from Como. It looks out to Isola Comacina and is located almost opposite the town of Bellagio.
James Bond afficionados will remember the villa from the movie Casino Royale, where Bond was recovering after being tortured. The scene was filmed outdoors under the shade of a 200 year old tree which you can see when you visit the gardens. The villa also featured in Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones.
200+ year old tree
Location of the 007 scene from Casino Royale
Villa del Balbianello Visitor Information
The ferry from Como to Lenno takes approximately 1.5 hours. For a supplement, you can catch the express ferry which takes half an hour. Lenno can also be reached by road from Como and there is a bus service that connects the towns.
From the Lenno landing, with your back to the lake, turn left and take a leisurely fifteen minute walk along the water and through the woods to the villa. Alternatively, you can catch a small boat but they don’t run frequently.
Entry fee to the gardens is €5.00*. Tours are compulsory if you wish to visit the interior of the villa but you need to book in advance.
The last admission to the gardens is half an hour before closing time. Allow yourself ample time to enjoy a quiet aperitivo along the shores of Lenno on your way back to the ferry landing.
Villa del Balbianello
Via Comoedia
Lenno (Como),
Lombardia, Italy
http://www.fondoambiente.it/beni/villa-del-balbianello.asp
* as at 2009
If you’re a James Bond fan, don’t miss our post on Hashima Island in Skyfall, the deserted island in the movie.
[…] stately Villa del Balbianello now lies beyond the hill. Otherwise known as the James Bond villa from the movie Casino Royale […]
Happy memories of Como. I went to one of the other ones, in Varenna, can’t remember the name now, spectacular gardens with turtle ponds etc.
Como does stunning villas, doesn’t it… I visited one in Bellagio, again beautiful gardens and a place of tranquility.
Oh I love the photos and the villa! The ivy climbing everywhere and what a view from the terrace! I’ve always called it the place where Princess Lea’s mom and Darth Vadar got married. I’ll need to watch “Casino Royale” again and look out for it. I think it was also in the movie, “Oceans 12.” Thank you for taking me back to Lake Como! *sigh*
Would you believe I haven’t seen the Star Wars movie? But Casino Royale is shot beautifully, and the location is stunning for a Bond movie!
How beautiful! You’ve got me craving a trip to Villa del Balbianello — or anywhere on Lake Como for that matter. I’ve been dreaming about places like that for years.
You’d love it! I had a difficult time leaving Como and the surrounding towns. The trips by ferry gazing out to the lake will always be with me.
So beautiful. Now you’ve got me eager to watch those movies!
The Bond film does it justice, not so sure about the others. I must watch them soon and compare!
Great photos. It looks so beautiful and peaceful – not at all like a setting for action-packed James Bond and Star Wars Films!
Julia
They chose well. Just imagine this setting is also popular for weddings. A couple was being show around while we were visiting. That would have been some incredible wedding!
How peaceful. The place is really beautiful. This perfect architecture by the lake is made more tranquil by the way it is situated. The garden and trees surrounding the villa make it magical. It has historical value too which made it more stunning. I’ve only seen it in movies and pictures though, but I don’t mind spending a whole month in that villa.
How stunningly gorgeous, Corinne! 🙂 I’ve been dreaming of visiting Lake Como since watching the beautiful images in “A Month by the Lake.”
The place is a dream… you almost pinch yourself once you get there! 🙂
[…] boat. If you are cruising on your way to Bellagio, you will pass the island then continue along to Villa del Balbianello (the James Bond villa) in Lenno. Information on the ferry timetables is available from […]
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[…] We stayed on the shores of Lake Como and took various boat rides to the nearby towns. We visited Villa del Balbianello in Lenno, also known as the James Bond villa from the film Casino Royale. We spent a full day in […]