lakecomo Blog and Journals

Villa Vincenzo is one of the most beautiful villas on Lake Como, owned for centuries by the most important Italian aristocratic families. It is located 3 km north of Cernobbio (between the famous Villa d'Este Hotel and George Clooney's villa). Restaurants and shops are within walking distance.

The villa was redesigned by the famous architect Felice Soavi and frescoed by Andrea Appiani. From 1829 to 1833 it was the residence of the famous composer Vincenzo Bellini who composed his work "La Sonnambula" at the villa. The ceilings in the main living areas as well as the bedrooms are ornately decorated and painted. The floors are a beautiful mixture of Cotto Lombardo, Seminato, and dark antique wood. The villa is filled with beautiful paintings, sculptures, rugs, tapestries and Venetian chandeliers. Perfect for large parties, the property is surrounded by spectacular Italian-style gardens that include a large swimming pool with unobstructed views of the lake.

The Estate is made up of an expansive main villa, and a large guest house located in a separate area of the property and completely independent from the main villa. The entire property was painstakingly restored and renovated in 2002 with detailed attention given to every room and feature. The main villa occupies three floors: The ground floor which is dedicated to the living and reception areas - The Formal Dining Room is an oval shaped room with 16 marble columns. The most important fresco in the villa sits above the dining room table. It was painted by Andrea Appiani who was Europe’s foremost neoclassical artist at the turn of the 19th century. The Tuscan Dining Room is more casual and filled with period Tuscan furniture. Here there is a separate sitting area with marble fireplace and television for relaxing and enjoying the views. On the same level there are two beautiful fully-equipped professional kitchens. The kitchens are large and airy with Subzero refrigerators and wine coolers, Viking and Gaggeneau ovens, grills and ranges, 4 disposals, 2 dish washers, a vegetable and fish steamer and a fryer. The counter tops are made of Verona marble and the cabinetry is richly decorated hand-carved wood. The most prominent feature of each kitchen is an eight foot high stone fireplace that are original to the villa and bear the family emblem. Also on the ground floor are two beautiful dens with computers and internet connections. One is fitted with mahogany cabinetry. There is a Billiard Room with a hand-carved English snooker table. For nights when guests want to stay in, there is a cinema with a large screen and cinema-quality sound system. The cinema houses one of the villa’s most incredible fireplaces and an exquisite mahogany bar.

SOURCE: http://www.rentavilla.com