The stunning Villa del Balbianello is already an impossibly beautiful architectural gem that is well worth exploring should you find a villa on Lake Como but in addition to being an important historical and artistic attraction, it has also been the filming location for some famous films.
It is no wonder that the Villa del Balbianello has caught the eye of location scouts multiple times – its good looks are truly cinematic! Perched prettily over Lake Como with blooming manicured gardens that directly overlook and flow down to the water, a lovely example of 18th century architecture, and filled with incredible works of art and furniture from all over the world, it is exquisite and utterly romantic.
Now open to the public and often a site for weddings, the villa is currently owned by the Italian cultural non-profit Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano (FAI) but was originally built for Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini in the late 1700s. The last private owner of the villa was explorer Guido Monzino and he added to the sumptuous interiors and rich collection inside the house with pieces gathered on his travels. Inside the house, there are all sorts of wonders to be explored and admired, therefore, including Chinese, African, and pre-Colombian art, English and French furniture from the 18th century, as well as documents and artefacts from Monzino's expeditions.
Film fans, in particular, will further appreciate that the villa was a set for two globally recognized films - Casino Royale and Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones. In Casino Royale, the villa played dual roles as the hospital where James Bond (Daniel Craig), recovered and where a Swiss banker appears to procure a code for a money transfer crucial to the plot. Then, in Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones, the villa served as Senator Padmé Amidala's haven following an assassination attempt and where her forbidden love affair with Anakin Skywalker began.
Well worth wandering and admiring, this cinematic gem of a villa is an ideal place to spend a day during a stay in one of our amazing vacation rentals on Lake Como or if you are headed to the area during a holiday in Italy.