Villa Monastero

Villa Monastero is a refined House Museum where four centuries of history, taste and style intertwine, creating an authentic jewel overlooking Lake Como.

The mansion was built in the early 17th century by the Mornico family, who transformed an old Cistercian nunnery founded at the end of the 12th century. In 1869, it was inhabited by Carolina Maumary Blondel, niece of Alessandro Manzoni: suggestive traces of this relationship remain in the painted ovals with scenes from the Betrothed in the Mornico parlour.

During the 19th century, the villa was frequented by important personalities from the Italian and European cultural and artistic scene. Today, in the 14 fully furnished rooms, visitors can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the past, admiring the refinement of the decorations, the richness of the materials and the variety of styles in the interior spaces.

The villa is surrounded by an extraordinary Botanical Garden, which stretches for almost two kilometres along the lakefront and offers opportunities for recreation and discovery thanks to the presence of numerous rare native and exotic tree species.

Inside, the Fermi Hall houses two important paintings from the second half of the 18th century, referable to the Venetian area, together with the temporary deposit of a precious panel from the Fondazione Comunitaria del Lecchese - Parrocchia di San Michele in Nava di Colle Brianza: a singular Eucharistic allegory dating from around the mid-16th century and attributable to the Cretan-Venetian area.

Finally, in the entrance hall of the monumental staircase, there is a striking mock tapestry painting depicting the Chariot of Apollo and Aurora, which welcomes visitors by introducing them to the tour.