VILLA CARLOTTA
Villa with garden and terraces built by the Marquis Giorgio Clerici, offering a unique view.
This villa, built at the end of the 17th century by Marquis Giorgio Clerici, president of the Lombard Senate, is one of the most beautiful on Lake Como. Sold in 1801 to Count Sommariva, the latter made it a sumptuous residence by partially adapting the style of the building to the neoclassical canons of the time. A politician and patron of the arts, he also transformed the park into a romantic garden and built up an impressive collection of works of art. Inside on two floors, a museum exhibits statues, paintings and furniture from the neoclassical period. Among the more important works are two superb statues by Canova, a frieze by Thorvaldsen, paintings by Hayez and furniture by Maggiolini. In the apartments on thefirst floor, don't miss the beautiful painted coffered ceilings dating back to the 18th century. But the highlight is certainly the terraced gardens. Here, trees and plants from all over the world spread out around the tiered building: fragrant citrus arbors, camellia hedges, southern ferns, palm trees, centuries-old sequoias, conifers and a bamboo forest promise wonderful walks. In spring, the flowering of more than 150 different species of azaleas offers the visitor a unique spectacle. From the gardens and balconies of the villa, the view looks out over Bellagio and Villa Melzi. Count Sommariva would have liked to compete in terms of pomp and splendour with Duke Melzi, the owner of the villa opposite!
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un feu d'artifice pour le yeux