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Villa Monastero is an elegant and eclectic residence that overlooks the eastern shore of Lake Como, on a portion of land that stretches from Varenna towards Fiumelatte. The villa is the result of a series of transformations of an ancient Cistercian monastery that dates back to the beginning of the XIII century.
Between the mid-XVI and the end of the XIX century, major renovations took place and the residential building was made much more dynamic and eclectic.

The villa has a park of great visual impact, as the result of a series of modifications carried out between the end of the XIX century and the beginning of the XX century – functional and decorative elements were added while preserving the previous layout and structures.

THE GARDEN

The original, Baroque garden, also features some Moorish details following several upgrades on the steep sides of the cliff where it lies. Arranged on terraces, it features different themes, but several recurring elements like Mediterranean cypresses (Cupressus evervirens) along the driveway, Lebanon cedars (Cedrus libani), or evergreen hedges.

It is a real botanical garden full of exotic tree species that have perfectly adapted to the local climate: there are African oil palms (Elaeis guinnensis), American oil palms (Elaeis oleifera), black-spined agaves (Agave macroacantha), spineless yuccas (Yucca elephantipes), cornstalk dracaenas (Dracaena fragrans), citrus fruits, oleanders, as well as some botanical rarities such as Mexican blue palms (Erythea armata) with large fan-shaped leaves.

Even the architectural elements are quite variegated: balustrades, statues, temples, vases, wells and fountains, all the way up to the coffee house are testaments to different styles ranging from baroque to classic, and to oriental.

Paths and stairways are perfectly integrated with the surrounding area and the lake; in some cases, these elements serve to mark interesting points of observation.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)