I would like to have lunch at Villa D Este on Lake Como. I understand the property is beautiful and they are pretty strict about having visitors wander. If I make a reservation for lunch will we be able to explore the gardens while we are there? What if we went there for cocktails in the evening? We will have a car and are staying in Como, are we better off to arrive there by boat or drive? I am not going to be in Rome at all this trip, but I saw that one of the tour companies offers a half day trip to Villa D Este, are there other tours of the villa available? Thanks for any advice!
Dana
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Dana, Cernobbio (on Lake Como) and Rome both have places called Villa d'Este; I doubt that the tour company in Rome could get you to Lake Como and back in half a day.
Posted by
Sutter Creek, CA, USA
8 posts
Hi Dana, The Villa D'Este 1/2 day trip you're talking about also includes Hadrian's Villa. It's a great trip and there is a restaurant overlooking the gardens at Villa D'Este. The one in Cernobbio, Lago di Como is a private hotel with a big foreboding gate. I didn't go inside but here's a tour http://www.villadeste.com/en/13/home.aspx. Buon Viaggio...Bill
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Bill, Dana's email refers to her being in the Lake Como area, your post refers to the Villa d'Este outside of Rome - and I agree it's a great trip, but booking in advance could mean Dana gets a trip to a place she's far away from (a friend once booked a hotel in Naples through a booking service, the hotel was in Naples, Florida, not Italy).