Residenza Lacus - Lake of Como

To live the life you want to live

Lake of Como

is and idyllic retreat

Set in the shadow of the snow-covered Rhaetian Alps and hemmed in on both sides by steep wooded hills, Lake Como (aka Lake Lario) is the most spectacular of the region’s three major lakes.

Shaped like an upside-down Y (or an armless wanderer), its winding shoreline is dotted with ancient villages and exquisite villas.

Our unique Villas are placed on the East side of the Lake, surrounded by gorgeous vegetation and looking at the marvellous sightseeing of the Lake

Torno Town

The town of Torno, composed of the villages of Rasina, Perlasca, Montepiatto and Piazzaga, is situated upon a headland, from where it looks down over the southwestern end of lake Como.

The middle ages saw Torno prosper. Local production of wool, textiles, and tapestries flourished, placing the town in direct competition with nearby Como. In 1522, following a drawn-out siege, Como succeeded in destroying Torno’s fortifications and wrought devastation on the small town.

Two churches built before the inevitable decline brought about by these dramatic events - Santa Tecla, by the side of the lake, and San Giovanni in the town’s centre - still survive today and are among the most beautiful of Lake Como’s Christian monuments.

Its splendid position has always made Torno a favourite with tourists and holidaymakers alike, many of whom come to visit its famous villas.

These include the 16th century Villa Pliniana, Villa Taverna with its magnificent gardens, and Villa Mia, owned now by the royal family of Saudi Arabia, which has seen famous guests from all over the world. Writer and poet Herman Hesse was so taken by Torno as his boat sailed past its shores that he wrote about it in his essay ‘A Walk Around Lake Como’.

Visitors may enjoy exploring the path that leads out from Torno up to Montepiatto. This forty-five minute walk brings us to the village of Montepiatto itself, with its church dedicated to Santa Elisabetta, as well as to the nearby woods which contain the rock formation known as the Pietra Pendula or hanging rock - a boulder resting on a pedestal.

Villa Pliniana

Villa Pliniana, originating from the sixteenth century, is located in the municipality of Torno, in the province of Como, on the right bank of Lake Como and is situated in an isolated cove, in the immediate vicinity of the stream that flows into Lake Como with a waterfall of about seventy metres.

It can be reached on foot, via the characteristic pedestrian street that goes through the woods and begins near the church of San Giovanni, or from the lake. From the dock you go up to the garden through the underground passage.

Two additional buildings flank the building: the chapel dedicated to St. Francis and what was once the caretaker's house.

Villa Pliniana has always been considered one of the most interesting properties on Lake Como and was declared a national monument.

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