45.97° N · 9.20° E · Lake Como
The FAI villa occupies the tip of the Dosso di Lavedo, in Lenno, with garden terraces that drop to the water. You arrive by a boat ride of a few minutes from the Lido di Lenno or on foot along a 1 km path. Reservation is compulsory and places are limited.
Who offers it
Independent companies: you book with them, on their terms. Prices are as they publish them and may change.
Step by step
Buy the ticket on the FAI website. The time you choose is the time of access to the property.
The water taxi leaves from the Lido di Lenno and drops you at the villa's landing stage. It is booked separately with Bellagio Boat Service or any other private water taxi.
A 1 km path uphill, partly gravel. There is a 2.5 km hiking variant, about 45 minutes, crossing the promontory's woodland.
Terraces above the water, the Durini loggia open to both arms of the lake and the view towards Isola Comacina.
Only with the guided visit. The exact time is given when you validate your ticket, with a maximum wait of an hour.
The FAI has limited entries since 2023, so you cannot just turn up here: you have to book a time. You can see only the garden on your own or add the guided visit to the villa, which lasts 50 minutes.
The villa occupies the tip of the Dosso di Lavedo, a wooded promontory that juts into the lake opposite Isola Comacina, in the municipality of Tremezzina. Its gardens descend in terraces to the water, with the Durini loggia at the top, open to both sides of the lake. Since 1988 it has belonged to the FAI, the Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano, the foundation that looks after a good part of Italy's private heritage. Inside, the villa holds the collections of its last owner, the explorer Guido Monzino.
The villa appears in two sagas. In Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones it is the lakeside retreat where Anakin and Padmé share their first kiss. In Casino Royale, the Daniel Craig one, it is the place where Bond recovers with Vesper, and their kiss was filmed under the loggia. What you will recognise is the garden and the Durini loggia, which you see with the garden ticket, without the guided visit. The end of Casino Royale, with "The name's Bond, James Bond", was not filmed here but at Villa La Gaeta, in San Siro, further north along the same shore, which is private.
Reservation is compulsory for the garden and for the guided visit, and is made on the FAI ticket website. For queries, the villa can be reached on 0344 56110 and at [email protected].
In November it opens from 10:00 to 17:00. In December and January it opens only on some separate days that the FAI publishes on its website; the high season runs from mid-March to mid-November. From 9 to 15 November 2026 the FAI holds its safety week and there may be an evacuation drill during your visit: if so, follow the staff.
Lenno is on the western shore, between Como and Menaggio. Navigazione Laghi boats and the ASF C10 bus, which runs along the shore, arrive there. If you go by car, park in Lenno: there is no parking at the villa. Lenno is also in the middle of the Lake Como Greenway, from which the 1.1 km detour to the villa leaves.
Beware of access on foot: the Greenway website says it is only allowed on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Confirm it when booking with the FAI and, if you go on another day, count on the boat.
The garden works well for families, with terraces and wide paths. The walking path from Lenno is not for pushchairs; arriving by boat, the garden has accessible areas. The guided visit to the villa, with rooms full of objects, interests teenagers more than small children.
Who it's for
What to bring
More to do
Itineraries
Tips
Arriving by boat is the prettiest way in. Walking down the 1 km path to Lenno costs nothing, on the days when access on foot is allowed.
You can walk to Lenno from Sala Comacina or continue towards Tremezzo after the visit.
For two adults and two or more children aged 6 to 18 there is a €42 garden ticket. Under-6s enter free.
Questions
Yes, always. The FAI requires a reservation for the garden and for the guided visit.
The garden, €15 for adults and €11 for ages 6 to 18 and students up to age 25. Villa and garden with guided visit, €25 and €17.
Not along the walking path: the FAI advises against it for pushchairs. Arriving by boat, the garden has accessible areas.
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Casino Royale. The two recognisable scenes, the kisses of Anakin and Padmé and of Bond and Vesper, are in the garden and the loggia.
In November it opens from 10:00 to 17:00. In December and January only on certain days that the FAI publishes on its website.
Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/lombardy/lake-como/things-to-do/villa-del-balbianello
