We’ve all crossed Lake Como in a cramped boat and stared longingly at the waterside villas that whisper of 1900s elegance. Well now you can own one, just a stone’s throw from the famous Villa del Balbianello.
This impressive 9-bedroom villa sits right on the water (with a private dock and pier) and is surrounded by a centuries-old park and large outdoor terraces. Living accommodation covers around 670 sq m across four floors, starting with the mezzanine level where a suite of entertainment spaces all boast superb views and are awash with fresh lake light.
This floor also has impressive dining spaces that open onto the external terraces to allow dinner parties to spill outside to soak in the evening air and watch the lights glitter across the water.
Also on the lower floors is a gloriously old-fashioned kitchen with plenty of space for meals to be shared or long chats over food preparation.
There are multiple food preparation and eating spaces, as well as cosy living rooms alongside the grander drawing rooms that would have hosted visitors.
The first and second floors of the main villa have six generously-sized bedrooms and six bathrooms. All are elegantly finished and optimise the location with multi-aspect windows.
The bathrooms are something akin to art, with bold tiles to bring a vibrancy into the area for washing away a hot day on the lake.
The rooms go right up into the eaves and many have access to balconies for a private place to enjoy the view any time of the day or night. To reassure those already concerned about the stairs to these higher floors, an internal lift has been installed to connect three of the four floors of the villa.
In addition to the main villa, the property also has a separate outbuilding which currently serves as the caretaker’s house. This is a further 120 sq m of space and is divided on two levels with a billiard room and a guest house of 80 sq m (including a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen).
The surrounding park has a space simply begging to be made into an infinity pool and is perfectly landscaped, with multiple levels and dining areas weaved in amid the luscious greenery
The property is grand and historic, but is in need of a tender renovation to prepare it for the luxurious lifestyle of the modern lake dweller. For those with the budget to cover the extra, this could become a fulfilling and exciting project, crafting a house of pure glamour and comfort in one of the most stunning and exclusive locations in Italy.
The villa is situated in Lenno, on the western shore of Lake Como, and joins a roll-call of splendid villas, including Villa Cassinella di Mantegazza and the incomparable Villa del Balbianello, built in 1787 by Cardinal Durini. Another historic building that makes for a beautiful walk on a cooler afternoon is the Acquafredda Abbey, which can be accessed via a path surrounded by olive trees.
Lenno is 27 km from Como (the main town on the lake), 34 km from Lugano and 75 km from Milan. The closest international airport to the property is Malpensa International Airport, 76km away.
Source: RightMove
Marketed by Knight Frank, Italy
9 bedroom villa for sale in Lombardy, Como, Lenno, Italy (rightmove.co.uk)
