Villa Balbianello, shorty history
Villa Balbianello, now mostly known to be the Lake Como Star Wars Villa, is one of the most spectacular places on Lake Como, an extraordinary marriage of architecture and nature. Overlooking one of the most beautiful spots on the lake, it was originally a monastery. Over the centuries the structure was expanded several times, thus becoming the home of cardinals and noble families. The last private owner was Monzino, the son of a noble family who was a famous explorer. The house inside is indeed now a museum with souvenirs from his explorations.
Entrance ticket
Today th villa is part of the Italian Environmental Fund; the gardens and the interior of the villa can be visited from 10am to 6pm, every day except Monday and Wednesday. The ticket to visit the park is 11 Euros, while the combined ticket for the park and the villa is 22 Euros. The villa can also be rented for private events and weddings.
How to arrive to Villa Balbianello
The villa can be reached on foot, along a path of about 20 minutes starting from Lenno, or by a shuttle boat that connects Lenno and the villa every half hour. Arriving with a private boat is certainly one of the most romantic ways to enjoy the splendor of the villa from the sorrounding waters. If you are on any villages on lake Como, there is not a way to get directly to the villa, other than private boat.
The movies
Villa Balbianello has been recently made very popular for two international movies. in 2002 it was chosen to be the villa of Star Wars Episode II, where the main characters fall in love. In 2006 it was the location set for the movie James Bond Casino Royale.
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