Villa Olmo and its Lakefront Gardens
While tourists queue for ferries to Bellagio, the neoclassical Villa Olmo sits at the northern edge of Como's waterfront offering free public gardens, a private beach lido, temporary art exhibitions and one of the most photogenic façades on the entire lake — largely to itself.
The Villa and Its History
Built in 1782 for the Odescalchi family in a clean, white neoclassical style, Villa Olmo has hosted Napoleon, Volta and Bellini within its frescoed rooms. The main building is now used for temporary exhibitions (check the local programme — quality varies but the rooms alone justify entry) while the grounds are freely accessible.
The garden is an English-style park with ancient plane trees, a small orangery, a fountain and direct access to the lake shore. The view back toward the city from the water's edge — Villa Olmo's white façade reflected in the lake with the Alps behind — is one of the great unsung photographs of northern Italy.
The Lido and the Waterfront Walk
Attached to the villa grounds is Lido di Villa Olmo, a public bathing establishment with a 50-metre outdoor pool, sunloungers and a bar that operates throughout summer. It is where Como families spend August afternoons, and the atmosphere is relaxed and local.
The villa is connected to the city centre by a pleasant 25-minute lakefront promenade — the Passeggiata Lino Gelpi — lined with magnolias and benches. Walk it at sunset when the light turns the water copper and the mountains go purple.
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