The construction of the villa and the loggia goes on that
Back at the end of the 18th century when the
Cardinal Durini the head of Lavedo, one
romantic peninsula on Lake Como,
acquired to have a secluded residence there
for the holidays and for literary distraction
erect. The place had until the 16th century
a small monastery with Franciscan monks
housed, of which only the narrow one is a testimony
Front of the small church that remains by
two bell towers.
At the cardinal's death in 1797, the
Villa already from two communicating
square main parts and an elegant
Pergola that proves to be an ideal bridge between
the library and the music hall.
The villa then became the patriot Luigi Porro
Lambertenghi, grandson of Durini, who inherited the
Residence from a place of meditation to
a dedicated meeting place for Freemasons
transformed (Silvio Pellico will transform from
Prison out with nostalgia for those days
recall). The voluntary exile of Luigi in Belgium
recommended the sale of the property to his friend Giuseppe Arconati Visconti, who
together with his wife Costanza the villa
a well-known summer salon made by
Berchet, Giusti and Manzoni.
Gianmartino Arconati Visconti, son of
Giuseppe, endowed "il Balbianello" with the
Stone railing that delimits the terrace.
After the dying out of the family, the villa was
left for thirty-nine years until 1919
bought by American General Butler Ames
became. He has important restoration work
owe that were geared to the
valuable furnishings of the Arconati
to win back. On the General's death
sold the heirs
"il Balbianello" to Guido
Monzino, a well-known Milanese
Entrepreneurs, educated collectors and
passionate traveler. The mansion was
again restored and partly in a
Converted private museum where Monzino
expertly and meticulously as one
Curator of the travel souvenirs that
art collections and memorabilia
his famous expeditions, like the conquest
of the North Pole in 1971 and of Everest in
1973, collected. On October 11, 1988, when
Monzino died, were due to his
the will of the villa together with the will expressed in the will
Furnishings and the magnificent garden to the fai as
left an inheritance - with a dowry that still
today helps with their maintenance.