Giardini di Villa Melzi d'Eril

The gardens of Villa Melzi d'Eril follow the Lake Como shore at Bellagio. Created around a neoclassical residence, they combine mature trees, exotic planting, sculpture and views across the water.

Why it matters

The estate connects landscape design with the political and artistic culture of Napoleonic Italy. Its founder, Francesco Melzi d'Eril, Duke of Lodi, served as vice-president of the Italian Republic and later Grand Chancellor of the Kingdom of Italy.

What to notice

Lakeside planting contrasts with the rising ground behind the villa. Cedars, ginkgo and camphor trees contribute to the botanical variety, while statues and architectural ornaments punctuate the composition. At the southern end, a chapel-oratory overlooks Loppia's small harbour. The former orangery contains the Museo Lodovico Gallarati Scotti, with family collections of antiquities, art and Napoleonic memorabilia.

Context and history

The complex was begun for Melzi d'Eril in 1808–1810; Luigi Canonica and Luigi Villoresi designed the gardens. Subsequent generations of the Melzi d'Eril and Gallarati Scotti families preserved and enriched the estate. In the 1970s Lodovico Gallarati Scotti adapted the orangery for displays relating to the property's art and history.