Lago di Como · Tremezzina
Tremezzina
Historic villas, botanical gardens and lakefront villages — all just minutes from Cà de Sura.
Villas
Looking out over the shimmering waters of Lake Como, in the heart of Tremezzo, Villa Carlotta is one of the most striking and elegant historic residences on the lake. Built at the end of the 17th century as an aristocratic residence, it brings together art, history and landscape in a way that still feels remarkably whole.
The museum rooms, with works by Canova, Hayez and Thorvaldsen, lead naturally out into the famous botanical gardens, where extravagant blooms, rare plants, ancient trees and sweeping viewpoints come together into something unmistakable. A visit to Villa Carlotta is an encounter with the cultivated, timeless soul of Lake Como.
villacarlotta.it →On the spectacular tip of the Lavedo peninsula at Lenno, Villa del Balbianello unfolds in one of the most iconic — and most poetic — settings on Lake Como. Set between water, sky and masterfully designed gardens, it embodies that rare blend of grace, calm and landscape perfection for which the lake is famous.
Grown out of a historic monastic origin, it became a residence of exceptional charm; its panoramic loggia and quiet elegance have long fascinated visitors. Familiar as a filming location for Star Wars and James Bond, it can be reached on foot from Lenno (ca. 1 km) or by water taxi from the Lido di Lenno.
fondoambiente.it →Across the water from Ossuccio, in the quiet light of the middle basin, lies Isola Comacina — the only island on Lake Como and one of the most atmospheric places on the entire Lario. It binds natural beauty to historical depth in a way that still feels almost otherworldly.
Despite its small size, the island has extraordinary cultural and historical significance. The boat ride is part of the experience — the water taxi leaves from the pier at Ossuccio.
On the hills above Ossuccio, just back from the shore, rises the Sacro Monte — one of the quietest and at the same time most moving destinations in Tremezzina. A UNESCO World Heritage site, this Baroque ensemble consists of fourteen 17th-century chapels that step up the slope through the vegetation.
The views over the lake and Isola Comacina are unusually wide and atmospheric. A visit to the Sacro Monte offers a calm, contemplative encounter with Lake Como — well off the usual tourist circuit. The climb takes around 30 minutes on foot.
Villas
Some of Lake Como's most elegant and striking historic residences are part of Tremezzina's everyday landscape. Villa Carlotta, with its remarkable botanical garden and art collection, and Villa del Balbianello, set between water, sky and masterfully designed gardens, are emblematic of a place where cultural heritage, scenic beauty and timeless elegance come together with particular grace.
Towns and Villages
Tremezzo, with the Parco Teresio Olivelli and its elegant lakefront promenade, is the only village in the province of Como to belong to the association of Italy's most beautiful hamlets. Lenno, with its natural bay and Roman roots, is the starting point for Villa del Balbianello. Ossuccio, facing Isola Comacina, is home to the UNESCO-listed Sacro Monte and ancient olive groves. Mezzegra-Bonzanigo impresses with frescoed palazzi from the era of trade with northern Europe, and a small museum of Nativity scenes.
Greenway
The house sits in a particularly privileged spot for anyone looking to explore the Greenway del Lago di Como — one of the loveliest walks in the area. The roughly ten-kilometre route follows, in part, the line of the historic Antica Strada Regina and passes through Colonno, Sala Comacina, Tremezzina and Griante, threading past olive groves, old village cores, historic villas and sweeping lake panoramas. Whether walked end-to-end or in stages, the Greenway is a quiet, elegant and genuinely authentic way to experience Lake Como on foot. greenwaylagodicomo.com →
Towns & Villages
As the only village in the province of Como, Tremezzo belongs to the Borghi più belli d'Italia — the association of Italy's most beautiful villages. Its elegant lakefront promenade, anchored by Villa Carlotta and its botanical garden, has drawn celebrated guests for centuries: Giuseppe Verdi, Queen Victoria of England, Kaiser Wilhelm II. The Parco Teresio Olivelli offers one of the few public lake-access points with a swimming beach and an open view across to Bellagio.
In the hilly hinterland, five medieval hamlets are tucked into the slopes — Balogno, Intignano, Rogaro, Viano and Volesio — all reachable on foot and all rewarding for their views. Also worth seeing are the Museo del Paesaggio del Lago di Como and the unusual Villa Amila (1927), which the rationalist architect Pietro Lingeri designed in the shape of a ship's hull.
Set in a natural bay at the foot of Monte Tremezzo, Lenno looks across the lake to the Bellagio peninsula with quiet elegance. The name is said to derive from the Greek "Lemnos" — a hint at ancient colonists. By tradition, Pliny the Younger owned one of his lakeside villas here — the "Comoedia Villa" on the Dosso di Lavedo; Corinthian capital fragments, now in the Museo Civico di Como, are taken as evidence.
From Lenno, Villa del Balbianello can be reached on foot (about 1 km) or by water taxi from the Lido. Other highlights include the church of Santo Stefano, the Romanesque baptistery of San Giovanni Battista, and the Abbey of Acquafredda. The mountain hamlets of Villa, Campo, Masnate and Molgisio — reached via old mule tracks — offer extraordinary views over the whole of the Lario.
In the quiet bay known as "Zoca de l'Oli" — the oil bowl — lies Ossuccio, favoured by a mild microclimate that allows extensive olive groves to thrive. It sits directly opposite Isola Comacina and packs an extraordinary amount of history into a small footprint. Its Sacro Monte, with fourteen Baroque chapels from the 17th 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 traces.
Villa Balbiano, a filming location for House of Gucci (2021), is also in Ossuccio. The Abbey of San Benedetto in Val Perlana, reached on foot through olive groves and woodland, offers exceptional stillness. The water taxi to Isola Comacina leaves from the pier at Ossuccio.
Mezzegra is made up of the hamlets of Azzano, Giulino and Bonzanigo. Bonzanigo impresses with its frescoed palazzi — including the Brentano palaces and the Casa del Vescovo — as a record of wealth built on trade with northern Europe. The parish church of Sant'Abbondio and the Casa dei Presepi, a small museum dedicated to Nativity scenes and Christmas imagery, are both worth a visit.
In Giulino, Benito Mussolini and Claretta Petacci were shot on 28 April 1945, after having been held the previous night in the Casa De Maria in Bonzanigo. A commemorative cross in the hamlet still marks the exact spot.
Tremezzina
Practical Info
Villa del Balbianello is the most striking destination in the area: a unique setting, immaculate gardens and an extraordinary history. Villa Carlotta is especially magical in spring, when the botanical garden is in full bloom. The Sacro Monte di Ossuccio (UNESCO World Heritage) is a quieter, less crowded alternative. A boat trip to Isola Comacina rounds off the visit.
Yes — especially Villa del Balbianello, where daily visitor numbers are capped. Booking via the FAI website is strongly recommended, particularly on weekends and during the April-to-October high season. For Villa Carlotta, tickets can be bought online via Ticketlandia, which saves the longer waits at the entrance.
Allow 2–3 hours each for Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello. A section of the Greenway takes another 2–4 hours. With Sacro Monte and Isola Comacina, you should plan at least two days for the area.
The villa cannot be reached by car. You get there on foot from Lenno (about 1 km, 25 minutes on a panoramic path) or by water taxi from the Lido di Lenno. The Lenno pier is also served by the public ferry — just a few minutes from Cà de Sura.
Villa Carlotta: ca. €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 website before your visit.
Bus line C10 (Como–Menaggio–Colico) connects all the villages of Tremezzina (ASF timetables →). The ferry piers at Tremezzo and Lenno offer connections to Bellagio (10–20 min), Varenna, Como and the other shore (navigazionelaghi.it →). A car is not needed for most excursions.
Impressions
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