Lake Como Villas: Villa Giulia
Via Valassina 81, Bellagio
Neoclassical Residence with Garden on the Eastern Shore in Bellagio
Villa Giulia is another remarkable villa on the Bellagio peninsula. Commissioned by Count Pietro Venini at the end of the 18th century and completed in 1806, it was named after his wife, Giulia, whose name it still bears today. Particularly striking are the two grand façades, each facing one arm of Lake Como. On the garden side, two wings are connected by a spacious terrace.
In the past, a long staircase led from the hamlet of Loppia on the opposite side of the peninsula to Villa Giulia. Today, this connection is preserved as a green strip with a narrow pedestrian path. The design of the entire estate was extremely costly and challenging in the 18th century, as the area was then characterized by rugged rocks and deep ravines, making it difficult to access.
From the mid-19th century, the villa changed ownership several times. Among its notable owners was Leopold I, King of Belgium.
Villa Giulia flourished during the Belle Époque as a luxury hotel and, after its closure, remained in private ownership. The expansive estate is therefore only partially accessible and best viewed from the water on the eastern arm of the lake.
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