The grounds of Villa Carlotta stretch across terraces that climb the hillside towards the mountains. The section most loved by tourists is the one dedicated to azaleas and rhododendrons: around 150 varieties, arranged along shaded paths that create corridors of intense colour in spring.
Alongside them bloom camellias and, on the historic pergolas, wisteria that every April covers the avenues with a purple canopy of unmistakable fragrance.
The garden also features a tropical section with tree ferns, bamboo and exotic plants cultivated in the 19th-century greenhouses. The whole area unfolds along a route that constitutes a true botanical itinerary, maintained with scientific rigour for over 150 years. For those exploring Lake Como in spring, it is a stop that is worth a whole day in itself.
Villa Carlotta, Tremezzo: art, marble and history
In addition to its flower garden, Villa Carlotta houses a collection of sculptures and paintings that make it one of the most significant cultural attractions for tourists visiting Lake Como. Among the best-known works are the 19th-century reproduction of Canova’s Cupid and Psyche, created by Giovanni Battista Tadolini, and Thorvaldsen’s large marble frieze depicting scenes from Torquato Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered.
Marble is the recurring theme throughout the entire residence, evoking an era when the lakeside villas hosted aristocrats, artists and emperors: Napoleon Bonaparte personally admired the collection during his Italian campaigns.
This blend of botanical garden, neoclassical sculpture and lake views makes Villa Carlotta an absolute must-see for any traveller in the area.
Visit the garden: the azaleas in bloom
The best time to visit Villa Carlotta is undoubtedly when the azaleas are in bloom, between late March and May. During these weeks, the garden is at its most vibrant: colours abound, scents mingle, and the morning light, filtered through the foliage, makes you want to photograph every corner.
The wisteria blooms in April, often at the same time as the azaleas, so anyone planning a visit to Lake Como in spring during this period will find the garden at its most spectacular.
Villa Carlotta does, however, have opening hours for visitors, which we always recommend you check before planning your day. It is generally open to the public from March to November, and opening hours vary depending on the time of year.
What to see in the surrounding area: from Tremezzo to Bellagio
Villa Carlotta’s location, between Tremezzo and Cadenabbia, makes it a practical and convenient starting point for exploring the western shore of the lake. A short boat ride away are Menaggio and, across Lake Como, Bellagio, the jewel of the central lake, which can be reached in just a few minutes by boat.
A botanical tour on Lake Como can include both Villa Carlotta and Villa Monastero in Varenna, another historic garden overlooking the water, which can be reached by boat rather than by land. A boat tour of the villas on Lake Como is the most practical and picturesque way to admire these sites in succession, whilst also appreciating the relationship they both have with the landscape and with one another.
The garden of Villa Carlotta as seen from the water
From the motorboat, the botanical gardens viewed from the water offer perspectives that a walking tour cannot: the true scale of the villa in relation to the landscape, the way the terraces slope down to the lake, and the contrast between the white façade and the greenery that surrounds it. When the azaleas are in bloom, this view becomes simply stunning.
With Lake Boat Como Tour, you can organise a personalized tour of Lake Como that includes a stop by Villa Carlotta during the flowering season, or set off directly from Tremezzo with a skippered boat hire to reach the villa by water and continue your excursion towards Bellagio or Varenna. Plan your day exploring the flower-filled gardens from the water: we’ll be delighted to show you the best of Lake Como.