Villa Balbiano HOUSE of GUCCI, Como Lake, Italy

Villa Balbiano

Villa Balbiano is one of the most historically significant villas on Lake Como.
The villa is located in a small town of Ossuccio, of the oldest one on Lake Como. The first historical trace of the name Balbiano is found in the document dated back to 941. The historian Paolo Giovio (1483-1552) wrote about the place where his family owned magnificent houses and land planted with mulberry trees and olives.

Until the middle of the XVI century, the estate belonged to the family of Paolo Giovio, who used it as a country residence. Later, the owner of the villa was Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio, who made changes in the he layout of the building. The next buyer of Villa Balbiano was a connoisseur of art — Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini. belonged to the famous Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio, who built it at the end of 16th century and used it as his main residence. A century later, it was enlarged and embellished by Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini who used the Villa to host a gallant and frivolous society. Here festivals, banquets and dances followed one another relentlessly. Since then each successive owner only added to the splendor of the villa and the fame of Villa Balbiano spread throughout Italy.
Recently, the old estate was completely restored under the strict supervision of the famous French designer Jacques Garcia. Mr. Garcia did not just restore the villa to its former splendor, but carried out a large-scale historical restoration of the building using materials, decorative items and furniture from past epochs.
Thus, today, the villa has found its charm in a new way. The building boasts a well-kept territory, frescoes of the XVII century, fresh repairs and refined interiors. The six luxurious suites in the main palace annually welcome all those who wish to celebrate a luxurious and awesome fests and galas here. The villa is rented for events, advertising shoots, as well as as a vacation residence. All rooms of the villa are decorated with antique furniture sourced from Sotheby’s and Christie’s. The old spacious villa resembles much a royal palace. This is the perfect place to celebrate significant events. Perhaps the most beautiful weddings on Lake Como have already taken place at Villa Balbiano.

The immaculate strict architecture of the villa in the exterior and the unimaginably beautiful and luxurious interiors, the most beautiful garden with flowering rare plants, with ancient stairs descending to the coil waters of the lake, fountains and pools with water lilies – all this together is Villa Balbiano.

With its illustrious past, an unparalleled mix of man-made and natural beauty, the Villa is one of the most glamorous locations on Lake Como.