Varenna, locations time has stopped retaining the charm of the older Italian villages
Varenna is a picturesque and traditional village, located on the eastern shore of Lake Como. With its 1700-year history, Varenna is one of the oldest numbered among the Como villages. The town is home to many sights worth seeing, including the Accademia Carrara and the art museum as well as landmarks like Villa Crivelli and Villa Monastero that represent an exceptional example of lake local architecture. Walking through these places you will notice several small shops and coffee bars that offer cups of wine or coffee. Varenna is an essential stop for anyone wishing to visit one of the most typical and quite towns of Lake Como.
Varenna is a charming medieval village on Lake Como’s western shore that offers visitors an unforgettable holiday experience. Its historic center is one of the most beautiful in Italy. It has narrow cobblestone streets lined with colorful houses, pastel facades and Gothic churches; it was built on hills overlooking a small harbor where you will find boats coming and going all day long.
The town’s lakefront, called Riva Grande, is simply delightful! Here you will find several cafes, restaurants, local artisan shops, ice cream parlors and much more. Walk among the colorful houses that brighten the village and take a romantic walk along the Passeggiata degli innamorati (Walk of lovers), the inspiring lake promenade that connects Riva Grande to the boat landing, where you will see boats and ferries keep coming and going.
The church was built in the 14th century in a style somewhere between Romanesque and Gothic, and hosts many paintings from the late 15th and 16th century. Look down and you will see the solid pavement, entirely made of local marble. The inside walls are decorated with frescoes by Vincenzo Foppa (1531).
From Piazza San Giorgio you can walk along Via Roma to reach Villa Melzi d’Eril. This villa was built between 1775 and 1778 by Giuseppe Piermarini for Count Francesco Melzi d'Eril (1753-1838), prime minister of Napoleon Bonaparte's Kingdom of Italy. It was designed as a Roman temple with two main floors connected by a monumental staircase leading up to an attic floor. On the ground floor there is an entrance hall decorated with stuccoes by Andrea Appiani (1704-1790).
Varenna has been inhabited since at least prehistoric times, as shown by excavations in Via del Castello that have unearthed traces of human presence from over 4000 years ago: flint tools, ceramic fragments and ancient coins from various periods were found there.
Villa Monastero is a beautiful patrician residence that was once an old monastery. The villa is located in Varenna, on Lake Como, Italy.
Villa Monastero was built in the 16th century as a Franciscan convent. It later became the home of the Bonzanini family and later on it became a hotel and conference center.
If you are interested in visiting Villa Monastero, keep in mind that it is open from March to November only. It is an international conference center and besides being a museum, it also hosts many events such as festivals and concerts.
A visit to Villa Monastero is definitely one of the best things that you can do in Varenna. The villa was once an old monastery, that later became a patrician residence. Besides being an international conference center, Villa Monastero attracts tourists from everywhere because of its beautiful botanical garden that collects many rare plant species. By visiting this famous villa, you will also have the opportunity to see Casa Museo, a museum that gathers four centuries of history within an elegant setting, characterized by refined decorations and furnishings.
The villa's botanical garden also attracts many tourists because it collects rare plant species from all over the world.
The name of Villa Cipressi originates from the beautiful and ancient cypress trees that can still be found in its gardens. Unlike Villa Monastero, this villa is currently a luxury hotel that you can book for your vacation in Lake Como.
The complex is surrounded by secular terraced gardens that reach the shores of Lake Como, a perfect location for unforgettable weddings and holidays.
Villa Cipressi offers guests a wide range of services to ensure a pleasant stay including restaurants, spa treatments, meeting rooms, boat rentals, and more. The rooms are spacious and offer views over Lake Como or onto the gardens. You will certainly feel at home here!
Built in the early 1900s by Countess Carolina von Branca, Villa Cipressi is a typical example of neoclassical architecture that flourished during the Belle Époque era.
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