This villa is situated at the end of the Lavedo promontory. It was built in 1787 for Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini who set out to create the most beautiful garden on the Tremezzo Riviera. In the 19th century it became the summer home of Costanza Arconati Visconti who played host to Alessandro Manzoni, Giusti and Berchet. In 1976 the property was bought by the famous explorer Count Guido Monzino who dedicated much effort to restoring the house and its grounds.
A peculiar characteristic of the garden are the creepers which have been sculpted over the years to dress the villa, the plane trees and the garden walls. A winding, shaded path leads up to a terrace from which one can admire a beautiful view of the lake. Further up, the loggia exhibits a rich collection covering the history of alpine and polar exploration.
The villa now belongs to FAI, the Italian equivalent of the National Trust (a fund for the Preservation of the Environment) which maintains it in all splendour and opens it to the public every day except Monday and Wednesday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. from the middel of March to the beginning of November.
