Villa Melzi

Francesco Melzi d'Eril, duke of Lodi and vice-president of the Italian Republic at the time of Napoleon (1801-1803), like many other powerful Milanese families, built a huge formal residence with park in Bellagio. The project was commissioned to the architect Giocondo Anbertolli and the works lasted two years, from 1808 to 1810.

Looked from outside, the villa is lacking in valuable architectural decorations, except for the windows – following one another in a regular sequence – create simple decorative motifs.

On the contrary, the wonderful park has been the first example of English garden around the Lake Como. The soil was sagely adapted with terracing and small knolls. Every single tree is fruit of a wise choice: traditional and exotic essences mixed to create unique exemplars, according to the taste of that time. Series of beautiful sculptures are spread all along the park, like the Egyptian basalt statue of Sekhnetz (Goddess of War) and a sculptural group representing the longed meeting between Dante and Beatrice.

You will find very charming the Japanese lake, with water plants like water-lilies, surrounded by Japanese maples and cedars. In azaleas and rhododendrons blossom time, between April and May, you will be amazed by multicoloured lawns and slopes.

The small chapel nearby the lake is extremely picturesque.

• You can visit the garden every day from 27th March to 31st October.
• From April to September Villa Melzi is open from 9 am to 1 pm.
• March and October from 9 am to 12.30 pm and from 2 pm to 4.30 pm.

The villa is at about 800 metres from Bellagio's pier.