Villa Saporiti – La Rotonda
Como10–20 min
First Basin
The villa-shore walk
From the lakefront to Villa Olmo, along the western shore of Como's bay: six villas built between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, whose shore has been a public walk since 1959.
- Duration
- 45 min – 1 h 30
- Effort
- Gentle
- Access
- Open to all
- Car-free
- Yes
- With children
- Suitable
- Mister No · CC BY 3.0
- Maurizio Moro5153 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0
How it works
In 1959 Como's administration took away the lake access of the villas on the western shore of the bay and made their shore a footpath open to everyone.
Since then it has run between gardens and facades built between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries: Villa Scacchi-Carminati, of 1787, with its double loggia and statues; Villa Saporiti, the Rotonda, now the Province's, with its elliptical hall projecting towards the lake; Villa Gallia, from the seventeenth century, where Paolo Giovio's museum stood; Villa Parravicini Revel, neoclassical with an Italian garden; Villa Volonté, two symmetrical wings joined by a veranda; and at the end Villa Olmo, by Simone Cantoni, the Comune's since 1925, with the Italian garden in front and the English park behind.
- Start from the lakefront, past the Tempio Voltiano and the monument to the European Resistance, and follow the Passeggiata Lino Gelpi to Villa Olmo.
- The villas are seen from the walk; the Rotonda and Villa Gallia belong to the Province, and at Villa Olmo the park can be visited.
- From Villa Olmo's park the Chilometro della Conoscenza begins, for anyone who wants to go on through the gardens of Villa del Grumello and Villa Sucota.
WhereComo
Things to see
On the map
© OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL
What's on nearby
Events within a few kilometres, on now or coming up.
Last day1Nov
Miniartextil
An international exhibition of contemporary textile art, every autumn in Como.
Palazzo del Borgo and other venues in Como
Until31Dec
200VOLTeVOLTA — the Alessandro Volta bicentenary
Two hundred years since Volta's death: talks, visits and exhibitions, in Como and beyond.
Tempio Voltiano, Villa del Grumello and other venues
11Nov
The Elmore Quartet at the Tempio Voltiano
Beethoven and Ravel in Volta's temple, with free entry: the second concert of “Musica e Energia nel segno di Volta”.
Tempio Voltiano, Viale Marconi, ComoFree entry
Nearby: places, experiences, services
Sources and credits
- Maps, parking, services and distances: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
- Freely licensed photographs: authors and licences under Photograph credits.
Sources and credits
- Maps, parking, services and distances: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
- Freely licensed photographs: authors and licences under Photograph credits.