We are visiting Italy the last 2 weeks of September. I'm wondering considering the time of year, if taking the garden tours are worthwhile. Will anything still be blooming around the mid lake region of Lake Como? Thank you.
Posted by
11689 posts
The gardens are in bloom in the spring, lots of landscaping though. However, they are worth seeing. I have never heard of a "tour" but don't see why you'd need one. We walked around them all at our own pace. You could have a tour of the Villa at Balbianello.
Favorites were Villa Balbianello in Lenno, Monasterio in Varenna and the Villa d'Melzi Gardens, Bellagio.
Posted by
78 posts
Karen, I also love gardens :) The combination of Italian architecture with greenery is just romance defined for me. If you stay in Lake Como, I would highly recommend staying at the Hotel Villa Cipressi which is very romantic and has its own garden along the shore, free for guests to stroll. The Villa Balbienello down the lake is perched high on a peninsula which makes for very dramatic classic garden terraces. For me, the Villa Balbienello pretty much fulfilled all my Italian villa fantasies! Finally, the Villa Carlotta has a very extensive garden. I'm not sure if they have a tour and you won't enjoy many flowering plants in September but as a garden fan, I would not miss this and you could also plan on a simple tasty lunch in the sunlit garden cafe there.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10722 posts
We went to Villa Carlotta in mid-September 2010. The gardens were lovely, but I don't recall an organized tour.
Posted by
Niagara, Ontario
1688 posts
I'm a third rate gardener but love a calm walk through a beautiful garden. We were based on the lake around the same time period you are going, all the villas mentioned are worth a visit and are done on your own. Villa Metzi was mainly shrubs and trees, if I remember correctly, in a nice location. I spent a long time in all the gardens.
You do have to book a guided tour for Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio, a slightly hilly walk through a lightly wooded park. Interesting if not as visually attractive as some of the other gardens.