Villa Monastero, Varenna

Late afternoon is a good time to explore this garden. The crowds disappear and the light is better for photography. On a blisteringly hot July day there was little shade so wear a hat and carry water. It must have been hard work carving this garden out of the steep hill side but the terracing and wide paths make walking easy. The main road is actually built over a part of the garden and they thoughtfully cast the concrete around the large trees to avoid having to uproot them. The gardens seem popular with people taking photographs of themselves wearing wildly fashionable clothes presumably for their Instagram page. There was even a bride and groom posing against the glamorous backdrops. The planting is well-designed and impeccably maintained and the views are sensational. The extra cost for viewing the rooms in the house is well worth it to get the overall picture of the house in its setting. If you are visiting Varenna and like gardens and views this place is a must see.

This place is magic and amazing and it really deserves a visit. You must take to enter to visit the botanical garden but the price is worth the visit. I have never seen so many trees and so beautiful. The view on the lake The view on the lake is speechless and leaves you with a sense of greatness. The town as well as nice and you take amazing pictures all around the lake. I really recommend this visit