Where Nature & Masterpieces Stand Together For Over 300 Years - Villa Carlotta

Villa Carlotta was built at the end of the 17th century by the marquises Clerci of Milan. The villa is situated on the shore of Lake Como and the grounds include Italian gardens decorated with sculptures, stairs, walking paths and a waterfall. In 1801 the villa passed from the Clerci family to the second owner, Gian Battista Sommariva, who modified the villa transforming it into a temple of art with romantic gardens. In 1843, the Sommariva’s heirs sold the villa to Princess Marianne of Nassau, and in 1847, she gave the villa to her daughter Carlotta (where it got its name) when she married George II of Saxen-Meiningen. George was fond of botany and enriched the grounds. In 1914, George died and in 1921, the government took over the property and almost auctioned it off in 1922. Local enthusiasts opposing the auction formed a foundation that continues to be responsible for the villa today.

Today, the villa tells the story of over three centuries of great collections set on a property of botanical gardens with walking trails on the shores of Lake Como in Tremezzo.

Here is what caught my eye, I hope you enjoy!

The map of the property

The villa was built higher than the road which allows unobstructed views of Lake Como and the hills of the Larian Triangle.

As part of an interior redecorating around 1910, George commissioned Lodovico Pogliaghi to do this ceiling in the Views Room.

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The villa is surrounded by a beautiful, lush botanical garden that is full of ancient trees, rhodedndrons, azaleas, and palms.

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The villa sitting on the hilltop

The fountain at the base of the entry stairs

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Looking out onto Lake Como

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Some of the ceiling detail

The view from an second floor balcony in the villa

The Sommarvia collection’s most famous statues were shown here together in the Salon of Marbles but are now in various rooms. Only the Venus and Mars group made by Luigi Aquisti in 1805, remains in its original position, in the center of the room.

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This is the chamber of Cupid and Psyche is a fine replica of Revived by Cupid’s Kiss by Antonio Canova

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The Views Room

The Napoleonic Room

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The Magdalene Room contains a replica commissioned by Antonio Canova specially for the Villa.

The Sommariva Room

The Palamedes Room was selected by Giovanni Battista Sommariva to contain one of the showpieces of his collection, the statue of Palamedes by Antonio Canovo.

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The collection in the Cameos Room consists of over 400 plaster cameos made in Rome in around 1820 by Giovanni Liberotti.

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The spiral stairway

Information about the house and occupants

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The Empire style parlor

The dining room

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The main hall

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Duke George II Studio

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Bedroom

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The Red Sitting Room

Princess Charlotte’s Room

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The villa’s chapel

What you should know:

• There are walking trails all through the villa’s lush gardens.

• Public restrooms are available.

• One price ticket includes the self-guided tour of the house and gardens.

• Tickets can be bought on-line or in-person.

• You could spend a couple of hours to an entire day here, depending on your level of interest.

• People are friendly and helpful and many speak English.

• Check the website for special events and days / hours of operation.

Location: Via Regina, 2 - 22016 Tremezzina - Loc. Tremezzo, Como, Italy

For more information: Villa Carlotta