Villa Cipressi, a prestigious complex of ancient buildings and beautiful gardens, it is located in Varenna, on the east coast of Lake Como.
The villa is placed in a privileged position, just on Varenna’s point and mirrors into Lake Como.
It is near to Villa Monastero and together represents the worldwide famous Conference Center of Varenna.
Botanical Garden Openings 2021
:
June: open daily 10am-6pm
July, August, September: open every day from 10.00 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.
October: open every day from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
November: open only on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) from 10.00am to 5.00pm
December: open only on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and on 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 at 10.00/17.00
Villa Cipressi is a building complex, built between the 15th and 19th century and offers great architectural elements of late Renaissance and fine Neoclassical features.
The beauty of the buildings is enhanced by a magnificent botanical garden, with staircases and terraces which descend to the lake. The favourable climatic conditions allow the development of unusual species in northern Italy, such as the agave americana: some specimens date back to the mid-nineteenth century. The garden includes a beautiful collection of Agavacee and Mediterranean species such as strawberry trees, myrtle, pictospheres, tamarisk, palms in various species, sapling oleanders and cypresses, slim and very elegant. Here there are rare specimens of the Californian Cupressus macrocarpa (Monterey Cypress).
A signposted route guides visitors through the flowering borders that follow one another in the seasons: after the camellias and azaleas bloom in summer gardenias, hydrangeas and roses and the flowerbeds are populated with annual blooms. Winter is also full of emotions: among the evergreen foliage of cypresses, holm oaks and magnolias you can smell the scents of calicanto, mahonia and sarcococca. In spring, on the other hand, there is the fragrance of wisteria, which shades the pergola: the perfect place for a stop overlooking the lake.
Originally part of the Serponti family’s patrimony, the building later passed to different illustrious owners, such as Baron Isimbardi, who at the beginning of the nineteenth century founded there a laboratory of the Milan Mint, of which he was the director; later to the Andreossi family, to Sir Sulton, to the English Astleys and, fnally, to the Accame family.
In 1980 it was acquired by the people of Varenna by a public and voluntary petition to be destined to public use.
Now it is property of the Municipality of Varenna and is a renowned hotel and restaurant - Conference centre.
It is the town’s seat for civil wedding rites and every year hosts dozens of weddings of couples from all over the world.
By car from Milan Linate airport: take the Tangenziale Est (East Orbital Road) following the signs for A4 Venice. After about 10 km take the exit towards Tangenziale Nord - E64 - A4. Continue for about 6 km and take the exit SS36 Lecco/Monza. Once in Lecco, always follow the SS36 signs for Sondrio - Valtellina and take the exit for Mandello del Lario - Abbadia Lariana - Varenna. Continue for about 15 km along the road that runs along the lake and until the exit for Varenna, on the left.
By car from Milan Malpensa airport: take the A8 motorway in the direction of Milan and continue until the VIALE Certosa exit. Take the A4 motorway in the direction of Monza, take the Cinisello Balsamo exit for the SS36 in the direction of Lecco - Sondrio. Once in Lecco, always follow the SS36 signs for Sondrio - Valtellina and take the exit for Mandello del Lario - Abbadia Lariana - Varenna. Continue for about 15 km along the road which runs along the lake until the exit for Varenna, on the left.
Public transport: arriving by plane at the airports of Milan Linate or Malpensa it is available a shuttle service to the station of Milan Centrale. At Linate airport you can buy your train ticket at the Trenitalia ticket office located on the ground floor of the arrivals area.
Buses from Linate: leave every 30 minutes from 6:10 am to 11:30 pm. The journey takes about 20 minutes and tickets can be purchased on board at € 4.00 per person.
Bus from Malpensa: the buses leave every 20 minutes, the service is active 24 hours. The duration of the journey is about one hour and tickets can be purchased on board at € 7.00 per person.
By train: The Varenna-Esino station is located on the Milan - Sondrio - Tirano railway line. From Milan the journey takes about 50 minutes. The ticket office at Milano Centrale station is located on the ground floor while the tracks are on the upper floor. The Varenna-Esino railway station has no ticket office: in the village there is a travel agency and a bar where you can buy tickets. Taxi transfer from / to the train station of Varenna - Esino at a cost of € 10,00.