VillaPliniana was built in 1573 around the spring that carries the same name. The name “Pliniana” is inspired by the famous naturalists native to Como, Plinio the Elder and Plinio the Younger who first described the spring and its peculiar intermittence in the first century A.D.  Through time other distinguished scientists, including Leonardo Da Vinci and Benedetto Giovio, studied the spring as well.

The construction of the villa is due to the will of Count Giovanni Anguissola, governor of Como, who decided to transform the spring and the surrounding land into a place of delight. Through the centuries the villa went through alternated periods of great splendor and abandonment. The Visconti, the Canarisi and the Belgiojoso are among the families who contributed to the époques splendor of the Villa. Many famous guests over the years visited the Pliniana: among them the poet Percy Shelley, who left a wonderful description of the villa, Gioacchino Rossini who composed Tancredi there, Napoleon who “is said” to have played on the still existing billiard table, Antonio Fogazzaro who adopted the villa as the set of his novel Malombra, later transformed by Mario Soldati into an homonymous movie in 1942 set in the villa itself. The villa has been visited by many famous writers (Byron, Foscolo, Berchet, Stendhal), musicians (Liszt and Bellini), scientists (Volta, Spallanzani and Ghezzi) and monarchs (Joseph II of Austria and Margherita of Savoy). After a long and meticulous restoration work, today the villa has been returned to its former splendor.

      MAIN VILLA – VILLA PLINIANA

• Anguissola Suite 3 Bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen
• Visconti Suite 4 Bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen
• Belgiojoso Suite 2 Bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, kitchen
• Berthier de Wagram 1 Bedroom, 2 bathrooms, living room, kitchen
• Halls, Garden & Loggia 2 large ball rooms, dining room, reception, billiard room

ANNEX

• Casa Shelley: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, laundry room, living room
• Casa dei Plini: 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, kitchen, living room, fireplace, laundry room
• SPA  and swimming pool

OUTDOOR

Historical loggia (60m2) and gardens overlooking the Lake (Main Villa)

• Full air-conditioning
• Wireless broadband internet throughout the villa
• Fireplace (Casa dei Plini)
• Solarium indoor and outdoor

I have always loved these beautiful words by Shelley because they reveal a part of the soul of Villa Pliniana that is often not considered.

This happens because due to its severe appearance and its fascinating history, “La Pliniana” is known throughout the world as a “place of mystery”. For example, I am among those who like to remember the historical episodes – often tinged with legend – related to this villa.

First of all, the one about the first owner of the villa, Giovanni Anguissola governor of Como,  who was assassinated here after killing the Duke of Parma.

However, the most interesting story is linked to the clandestine love story between Emilio Barbiano di Belgiojoso and Princess Anne-Marie Berthier who lived eight years of almost total isolation at the Pliniana. It seems that the two – to appease “their hot spirits” – used to dive into the lake wrapped together in a sheet. On the other side of the bank, this sightgenerated among the villagersthe legend of the ghost of Villa Pliniana.

And I cannot forget that “Malombra”, a famous novel by Antonio Fogazzaro which deals with occult matters, was inspired by this place which later became the set of the film of the same name in 1942.

Certainly all this contributes to giving Villa Pliniana even more charm, but let’s not forget that, as Shelley says, this scenario is unique in the world for its  beauty, romance and poetry. Just try to contemplate the villa from the lakeon a sunny day: you will grasp all the poetry and you will experience a feeling of peace and the desire to be there to be part of so much beauty. When you look out from the colonnade to see the lake you will understand why poets and writers – such as Foscolo, Manzoni and Stendhal – or musicians – such as Rossini, Liszt, and Puccini – and even princes and emperors – such as Joseph II of Habsburg and Napoleon Bonaparte – were so bewitched by Villa Pliniana.

Whether you decide to be a guest of the Villa for your holidays or to organize your special event here, your experience will be rich in history, art and beauty like nowhere else.

VillaPliniana was built in 1573 around the spring that carries the same name. The name “Pliniana” is inspired by the famous naturalists native to Como, Plinio the Elder and Plinio the Younger who first described the spring and its peculiar intermittence in the first century A.D.  Through time other distinguished scientists, including Leonardo Da Vinci and Benedetto Giovio, studied the spring as well.

The construction of the villa is due to the will of Count Giovanni Anguissola, governor of Como, who decided to transform the spring and the surrounding land into a place of delight. Through the centuries the villa went through alternated periods of great splendor and abandonment. The Visconti, the Canarisi and the Belgiojoso are among the families who contributed to the époques splendor of the Villa. Many famous guests over the years visited the Pliniana: among them the poet Percy Shelley, who left a wonderful description of the villa, Gioacchino Rossini who composed Tancredi there, Napoleon who “is said” to have played on the still existing billiard table, Antonio Fogazzaro who adopted the villa as the set of his novel Malombra, later transformed by Mario Soldati into an homonymous movie in 1942 set in the villa itself. The villa has been visited by many famous writers (Byron, Foscolo, Berchet, Stendhal), musicians (Liszt and Bellini), scientists (Volta, Spallanzani and Ghezzi) and monarchs (Joseph II of Austria and Margherita of Savoy). After a long and meticulous restoration work, today the villa has been returned to its former splendor.

  MAIN VILLA – VILLA PLINIANA

• Anguissola Suite 3 Bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen
• Visconti Suite 4 Bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen
• Belgiojoso Suite 2 Bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, kitchen
• Berthier de Wagram 1 Bedroom, 2 bathrooms, living room, kitchen
• Halls, Garden & Loggia 2 large ball rooms, dining room, reception, billiard room.

ANNEX

• Casa Shelley: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, laundry room, living room
• Casa dei Plini: 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, kitchen, living room, fireplace, laundry room
• SPA  and swimming pool

OUTDOOR

• Historical loggia (60m2) and gardens overlooking the Lake (Main Villa)

• Full air-conditioning
• Wireless broadband internet throughout the villa
• Fireplace (Casa deiPlini)
• Solarium indoor and outdoor