Bagni di Lucca and Beyond

We have been back to Lake Como.  For Jim’s first visit we thought it a good idea to stay at the very lovely Hotel Villa Cipressi.  Cipressi means cypress trees and the garden is full of them, along with the most heavenly wisteria which was in full bloom in parts of the garden.

a view of Hotel Cipressi on the point – from Monastero gardens

The Villa was built between 1400 and 1800.  It was originally the property of the noble Serponti family, but had several owners until 1980 when it was purchased through a public voluntary subscription by the people and friends of Varenna  for public use. Owned by public corporations, mainly by the Municipality of Varenna, it is managed as a hotel – lucky us!

in the foyer of the hotel

The century old tiered gardens lead steeply to the lake. The mild climate and abundant rain combined with the fact that the garden is protected from the north wind, means that the garden is rich in exotic botanic species.  The gardens are open to the public for a small fee if you are not staying at the hotel.

the hotel gardens

beautiful gardens

If you look carefully you can see the legs of a huge bumblebee

in the garden

We travelled to Lake Como with Liz and Lawrie and  we had  lovely rooms overlooking the lake.  Ours had a view through the cypress trees.  The hotel has a restaurant and a very pretty breakfast room which you arrive at via a very convoluted path into what appears to be another building.

from our window to the lake

the pretty ceiling in the breakfast room

The outdoor terrace is particularly inviting with a seating area covered by a trellis overgrown with  divine smelling wisteria.  Spring is an excellent time to visit to take advantage of this.  Late  April is perfect, the weather is usually warm, but not hot and the tourists have not yet arrived in droves.

The staff members were helpful, especially the ever cheerful Davide, who had some excellent suggestions for us and very  kindly booked our lunch visit to Villa d’Este, which will be the subject of the next post.

a duck with her 9 babies

learning to swim

We spotted the duck family when we having lunch by the lake.  We saw them again the next day, but there were only 8 ducklings.  They are easy prey for the scores of hawks or eagles circling the lake.

spring in Varenna

spring flowers

spring flowers

Hotel Villa Cipressi – Via IV Novembre 22, Varenna  ph 39 0341 830113    www.hotelvillacipressi.it