Perched
in upper Moltrasio, Villa Passalacqua is an astounding property
situated on Lake Como in Italy. The property runs from high up in the
village all the way down to the lake shore, and is one of the larger
villas on the lake at 30,000 square feet.
Built
in the 1700s, this magnificent home was designed by Felice Soave, a
prominent Swiss architect. The interiors were finished by one of the
most coveted designers at the time, Giocondo Albertolli, whose credits
also include the Pitti Palace and Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
While
Felice Soave designed the Villa Passalacqua to have a simple facade,
Giocondo Albertolli designed the interiors to be an elaborate
showcase.
Over
the centuries, Villa Passalacqua has played host to numerous
musicians, artists, writers and statesmen including Napoleon
Buonaparte, Vincenzo Bellini and Winston Churchill.
The
villa houses numerous works of art, including a sculpture by Auguste
Rodin, but the most significant are the frescoes painted by Andrea
Appiani, Napoleon's chief artist. Two of Appiani's most important
frescoes reside in the Villa Passalacqua.
Vincenzo Bellini, one of the most important composers of Italian opera
in his time, was a long-term guest of the villa between the years of
1829 and 1833, and composed the operas Norma, Sonnambula, and La
Straniera while at Villa Passalacqua. The music room is a special
two-story room with a balustrade above and three eighteenth century
Albertolli frescoes. The piano, a Bluethner Grand Piano, once stood in
the Leipzig concert hall and now plays beautifully in the Villa.
The
villa has been updated with every modern convenience imagineable,
including a gym, billiards room, and ensuite baths in each guest
suite. The swimming pool enjoys views of Sant' Agata, a 12th century
church, Lake Como, and the surrounding gardens.
The
gardens are considered some of the most historic and beautiful on Lake
Como. Aside from the formal gardens, there is also a vegetable garden,
olive groves, and a cutting garden, providing endless possibilities
for natural floral arrangements throughout the Villa.
Villa
Passalacqua is available for short-term rental. It's the perfect
setting for a wedding, anniversary party, corporate event, or just a
special place to spend a vacation. It's location is close to two major
airports and some of the best shopping in Europe. The main house has
eleven guest suites, a music room, a formal dining room, a casual
dining room, a drawing room, a kitchen/grill room, a bar/cinema, a
billiard room, and a gym. The guest house (Villa Bellini) has a total
of six bedrooms and bathrooms, a sitting room, kitchen, dining
room, and two additional guest baths.
