BELLAGIO, Villa Melzi Gardens

The Villa Melzi Gardens are one of the most enchanting places to visit in Bellagio. They are open to the public from March to October by purchasing an entrance ticket or booking a guided tour.

In the center of the garden stands the villa, which unfortunately cannot be visited. It is neoclassical in style, with simple lines and a lakefront façade adorned by an imposing double staircase and numerous windows. It dates to 1810 and was built by Duke Francesco Melzi d'Eril, an important Italian politician who in 1802, when the Italian Republic was founded with Napoleon Bonaparte as its leader, became its vice-president until 1805.

When the Duke died in 1816, he was buried in the chapel you can visit inside the gardens, built between 1808 and 1816. Both the villa and the chapel are works of the architect Giocondo Albertolli....