The famous properties of Lake Como

Lake Como is studded with splendid villas that are steeped in history and art, with grounds and gardens that are brimful of colour and the charm of bygone days.
Many of these houses are still lived in by celebrities such as artists, politicians and business magnates, while other villas have been turned to new uses as condominiums, hotels and convention centres.

It is not just Como that offers fine properties, but also all those larger and smaller towns and villages overlooking the shores of the lake, such as Laglio, Bellagio, Menaggio, Moltrasio, Cernobbio, Torno, Brunate ... to name but a few.

Villa Ruspini

It is a pretty nineteenth-century building, formerly owned by the Sparks family and then inherited by the Ruspini family. We mention "donna" Egidia Ruspini Brocca, a musician and a good paintress towards the end of the nineteenth century. The villa belonged to Baron Casana for some years too; today it is an elegant block of flats.

Villa Pasta

It is a neoclassical Villa erected in the first decades of the nineteenth century by the architect Filippo Ferranti on request of his niece, the famous singer Giuditta Pasta. This great opera artist often lived in this villa, which was later transferred to her heirs.

Villa Roccabruna

The ground where the "Roccabruna" is situated was once part of Villa Pasta. The singer owned an estate here called the "Roda". This was demolished in 1904 and the present "Roccabruna" was built on its ruins. For many years this sumptuous Villa, rich in marbles and statues, belonged to the Wild family, important cotton manufacturers, first with Emilio - fond of big-game hunting -, then with his son René. At present it is in the hands of an estate agency.

Villa Taverna

The place is ancient, as in 1545 the Odescalchis already owned a house here, which has been sold to them by the Canarisis.
In 1787 Mr Antonio Tanzi had the present villa erected with two separated bodies; in practise, the building lacked the central part. The poet abbé Giuseppe Parini often stayed here, entertained as a guest by the Tanzis. The villa was later acquired by Counts Taverna, who saw to the insertion of the central body of the house obtaining the so-called horse-shoe [...]

Villa Mia

It is one of the most elegant buildings in the hamlet. It is white and it was erected just on the shore of Como Lake, shortly before the promontory, between the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of this century. It formerly belonged to the Inverni family; for many years, since 1948, it has belonged to the Saudi Royal Family. The villa is used as a high-level meeting centre.

Villa Plinianina

It is a building probably dating back to the first decades of the nineteenth century. Its name should be due simply to the fact that it was built near the much more famous "Pliniana". With an effort of will, Villa Plinianina, would rather recall a Venetian mansion placed on Lario, instead of the Grand Canal! In 1860 this singular building belonged to Mr Enrico Corti. For many years it has been an elegant block of flats.

Villa Pliniana

The villa is called after two important Comense ancient personages: Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger, uncle and nephew. Above all, they were the first who studied the phenomenon of the intermittence of the spring "Pliniana", or "Pluviana", which gushes from the above rocks. Count Giovanni Anguissola, governor in Como, had this villa erected in 1577. After many transfers, the most romantic time ever spent in this house came in 1849. Prince Emil of Belgioioso, the owner at that time, [...]

Villa Oleandra

This pretty nineteenth-century villa is situated close by a small bay and is adorned by a narrow park, which lenghtens parallely to the shore of Como Lake. It belonged to the Milanese Vitali family for some generations. We mention a gentleman of this family, Mr Emilio Vitali, a worthy and well-known portrait-painter of the Lombard good society and a pleasant interlocutor at the beginning of the twentieth century.
He was particularly fond of his fine "Oleandra" - the villa of his [...]

Villa Baragiola

It is a Nineteenth-century building, acquired towards the middle of that century by the prima ballerina at the Scala Theatre in Milan Sofia Brambilla,who went alla over Europe by the stage-name of "Sofia Fuoco" ("Sofia Fire"). At the age of thirty-five, concluded her brillant carrier, she came here to end her days. She died in 1916, lamented by all the villagers for her goodness and for the sums of money which she yearly employed for benefit. Later on, Countess Viganotti Giusti owned [...]

Villa Cazzaniga

It is an original and elegant residence,at least for its octagonal architecture. Named "Villa il Ripiego", too it was built on the lake with a nice garden and a swimming-pool. For some decades it belonged to Counts Viganotti Giusti who furnished it luxuriously. In relatively recent times it was transferred to Mrs Rossini Cazzaniga. According to some historicians this was the nineteenth-century residence inhabited by the charming Anne Marie Berthier de Wagram de Plaisance after having [...]