Villa Gialla – Bellagio - Como Lake

8 Bedrooms – Pool - Sauna

Location and Surrounding Area. Villa Gialla is a magnificent property set right on the shores of Lake Como and boasts 200 metres of private waterfront. Lake Como has been an elite destination since the times of the Roman Empire and its glamorous inhabitants, deep blue water, wooded hillsides and dramatic Alpine backdrop ensure that the visitors keep on coming. The village of Limonta is in an ideal position for exploring the marvels of the lake and is just five minutes from the romantic gem of Bellagio. Bellagio is known locally as La Perla del Lago (the pearl of the lake) for its outstanding beauty, quality restaurants, local trattorias, chic shopping and of course the famous Italian homemade gelato ice cream.

There is plenty to do on the waters of Lake Como. A whole host of water sports are available and it's easy to spend an entire day sailing, canoeing, windsurfing, water skiing and kite surfing. There are water skiing schools in Lezzano, a hydro-plane school for pilots in the town of Como and three sailing schools in Dervio. Como also hosts various international speed boat races and becomes a magnet for the rich and famous.

For the walkers, there is a funicular from the town of Como up to the village of Brunate, 700 metres above Como and starting point for some spectacular walking tracks and superb views of the Alps. Como is also famous for its silk and you can see the full silk-making process or just sit in the lively piazzas and watch the world go by.

Villa Gialla is only 4 km from Bellagio, 12 km from Lezzeno and 37 km from Como. The nearest international airports are Bergamo (60 km), Milan Linate (70 km) and Milan Malpensa (90 km). The villa is 1km from the village of Limonta, which has all of the services that you might need during your stay and there is an excellent trattoria right next door.

The Property. Villa Gialla has a long and illustrious history. During the 18th century, the villa was given over to wine making and the breeding of silkworms. Since then it has passed through four generations of the aristocratic Guido family, who have lovingly created the home it has become today.

Villa Gialla sleeps up to 16 guests in eight sumptuous, air-conditioned, double bedrooms on the first floor, each with a luxurious en suite bathroom. Three of these are twin rooms and one is the majestic honeymoon suite. The honeymoon suite has an amazing bedroom, a luxurious bathroom and a large living room, all with breathtaking views across Lake Como. There is also living room, a study and an superb, panoramic terrace on the first floor. The three floors of the villa are connected via a modern elevator and a beautiful old stone staircase for the more romantically-minded guests. The ground floor houses a stunning 200m2 ball room and with the waters of Lake Como only eight metres away, this great hall makes an ideal venue for weddings and other elegant special events. The understated beauty of the ball room and its frescoed ceilings, Venetian terrazzo floors, 18th century marble fireplace, crystal chandeliers and priceless family heirlooms complete the exquisite furnishings. There is also a professional-standard kitchen, laundry room plus two extra bathrooms on the ground floor.

The top floor gives itself over to pleasure and relaxation. You'll find an enormous games room with a billiards table and card table, a fully equipped gym, a sauna with shower room and an afternoon tea corner.

The immaculate grounds cover ten hectares and feature a botanical garden, a rose-lined footpath, a rock garden, a vineyard, olive groves and fruit orchards. The black bamboo and palm trees were planted in the early 1900s by Cesira Guido. Let's not forget the gorgeous swimming pool with a furnished poolside area to complete the Villa Gialla experience.