Varenna, Villa Monastero

Villa Monastero in Varenna is located in an extremely panoramic position in the centre of lake Como and framed by a botanic garden of very dense design, rich in exotic plants, and often used for study and research activities, important conventions and congresses. These activities are promoted and managed by the Istituzione Villa Monatero, an instrumental body of the Lecco Province. The villa hosted lessons by the Noble Prize Winner, Enrico Fermi, and today has become home to the museum institute of the Casa-Museo Villa Monastero. The origins of the Villa come from the presence of the cistercian monastry which existed from the end of the XII century, and was transformed during the sixteen hundreds to a holiday residency after it was purchased by the Mornico family from Valsassina. Nowadays the same furiniture and collections left from the last two owners of the bulding are still there and give it an eclectic fell. The last owner was Marco De Marchi who left the whole property and all its contents to the public.