Villa del Balbianello is an 18th century villa which is perched precariously and picturesquely over Lake Como. It is now owned by Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano (FAI), private, non-profit trust which receives sites of historic, artistic and naturalist value and restores and opens them to the public so that everyone can enjoy them. A popular spot for weddings and tourists, it was built for Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini at the end of the 1700s. The décor which exists today, however, comes from its last owner, the explorer Guido Monzino. It has a rich collection of Chinese, African and pre-Colombian art, precious English and French furniture of the 1700s and a small museum with documents and mementoes of his expeditions.
Yet, in spite of all this, it is probably most well-known for the views it offers across the lake and two particularly famous movies which were filmed there; Casino Royale and Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones.
Just find a villa with a swimming pool on Lake Como and you can then visit the villa for yourself and see where the two iconic scenes were filmed as well as the historic and beautiful villa itself and its views.
Scenes from Casino Royale were filmed in front of and at the villa. The villa actually doubles as a hospital where James Bond (as played by Daniel Craig) is recovering after being tortured, together with Vesper (Eva Green).
Just find a villa with a swimming pool on Lake Como and you can then visit the villa for yourself and see where the two iconic scenes were filmed as well as the historic and beautiful villa itself and its views.
Scenes from Casino Royale were filmed in front of and at the villa. The villa actually doubles as a hospital where James Bond (as played by Daniel Craig) is recovering after being tortured, together with Vesper (Eva Green).
Villa del Balbianello is also where the Swiss banker later comes to get a code to transfer the large sum of money which is central to the plot of the film.
In Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones, the villa is the location to which Senator Padmé Amidala is moved when a threat on her life is made.
The young jedi, Anakin Skywalker is entrusted with her care and the two gradually fall in love, though their romance is forbidden.
CGI is used to alter the appearance of the building to suit the architecture and style of the film but the view across the water and the terrace remain unaltered.
We see the two figures, plus their entourage pull up on a boat to the dock of the villa and stand on the terrace talking before Anakin kisses Padmé in the iconic “stolen kiss” scene.
An iconic and beautiful location which inspires visitors and film-makers alike, Villa del Balbianello is surely one of the best historic homes to visit on Lake Como or if you're anywhere close by at all.
In Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones, the villa is the location to which Senator Padmé Amidala is moved when a threat on her life is made.
The young jedi, Anakin Skywalker is entrusted with her care and the two gradually fall in love, though their romance is forbidden.
CGI is used to alter the appearance of the building to suit the architecture and style of the film but the view across the water and the terrace remain unaltered.
We see the two figures, plus their entourage pull up on a boat to the dock of the villa and stand on the terrace talking before Anakin kisses Padmé in the iconic “stolen kiss” scene.
An iconic and beautiful location which inspires visitors and film-makers alike, Villa del Balbianello is surely one of the best historic homes to visit on Lake Como or if you're anywhere close by at all.
Photo credits
picture 1: MarkusMark / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: MarkusMark / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: MarkusMark / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: MarkusMark / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: MarkusMark / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: MarkusMark / CC BY-SA 3.0
