Villa del Grumello
A ginkgo biloba that has stood here for centuries drops its fan-shaped leaves onto a path that once led Alessandro Volta and Ugo Foscolo to the same lakeside garden. Villa del Grumello, on the road between Como and Cernobbio, opens its four-hectare park to visitors free of charge — and what you find inside is less a manicured showpiece than a layered accumulation of time: redwoods, a lotus-covered pond, multiple belvederes over the water, and a vine-covered pier that still reaches into Lake Como.
The villa itself stays closed to casual visitors, but the park is the point. A small greenhouse leans over a spring pond in the southwest corner, azaleas crowd the paths in season, and a large cedar anchors the upper lawn. Somewhere along the way you pass a bust of Foscolo, placed here at the wish of Countess Giulia Celesia, who eventually gave the whole estate to a hospital rather than let it be sold off.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who come back tend to time it for August, when lotus flowers are open on the pond and the daily hours mean you can arrive in the cooler morning. The bust of Foscolo is easy to walk past — worth slowing down for, especially if you know his poetry. The belvedere nearest the pier gives the cleanest view of the lake.
The story behind Villa del Grumello
The site appears in 15th-century documents as 'Castellazzo,' a two-storey rural structure ringed by vineyard and orchard. In the second half of the 16th century, Milanese banker Tommaso d'Adda rebuilt it as one of the first suburban residences of Como's aristocracy on the lake shore. A 17th-century restoration followed under architect and artist Tibaldo Pellegrini from Cernobbio, and at the end of the 18th century Simone Cantoni rearranged the façade and added two lateral wings.
The property passed through the Odescalchi, Giovio, and Celesia families. In 1870 architect Nessi raised the central body by a floor, giving the villa its current profile. Conte Paolo Celesia, a dedicated naturalist, shaped the park layout. In 1954 Countess Giulia Celesia Cays of Caselette donated the entire complex to Sant'Anna Hospital. Between 1970 and 2000 it housed the style office of Ratti, Como's renowned silk manufacturer. Restoration began in 2006 under an association founded by the Chamber of Commerce.
Good to know
The park is open Sundays only from April through November, 10:00–19:00, with daily opening throughout August. Admission is free. Take a local bus toward Cernobbio along Via per Cernobbio and get off near number 11. The villa interior is not accessible except during special events.
The park is at its richest from late spring through early autumn. August brings open lotus flowers on the pond and warm lake light in the late afternoon; it is also the one month when the park opens daily rather than Sundays only. Spring visits, when azaleas are in bloom, reward early arrivals before the Sunday crowds build.
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What travellers say about Villa del Grumello
Amazing Villa with an unbelievable view on the lake of Como. I had the joy of celebrating my wedding here on the end of August. Our guests were able to enjoy besides the Villa also the huge garden and selection of botanic plants at the Villa del Grumello.
Had a great time and the office team were very kind and accommodating. We had conducted a summer school on medical imaging and the food service teams that came from restaurants at Como did a great job too. The lake side is very scenic and the botanical garden is well maintained.
Very fancy and nicely located place. Right next to the lake with a very beautiful small garden and good entrance.
Amazing location with stunning view on the lake. 5 mins from Como city center
Beautiful Villa not far from the centre of Como surrounded by a magnificent garden and often used for events.
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