Lake Como Convent

A Lakeside Home with a Storied Past

Lake Como has to be seen to be believed, a vast inland body of water surrounded by steep, impossibly green hills, with towns and villages sprinkled along the line where the mountains meet the water. This home on its shores was originally a farmhouse. By 1608, it had become a small convent, the ancient door of which still remains, and by 1700 it had been reincarnated again as a private residence. Today, it has been given a new lease of life by a well-known Italian architect, with renovations completed in August 2021. 

Located on a hillside overlooking the world-famous 16th-century residence Villa D'Este (and its remarkable 25-acre grounds), it's in one of the most prestigious residential areas on Lake Como. And, as you would hope with a home in such a prime location, it boasts dazzling views of the water from its charming terraces. The house is available for rent in its entirety all year, but individual apartments can be rented in low season, November through February.

The owner has gone to great lengths to retain the original beauty of this vacation home for rent in Italy, preserving features like terracotta floors, wooden beams and stone facades. However, it has also been updated to feature modern luxuries like underfloor heating, air conditioning, Bluetooth sound systems, and wifi. 

Traditional materials like Lombard terracotta have been used to augment the original features and blended with innovative new materials like resins in the bathrooms. This mixing of eras also shows in the furnishings, which are a coming together of antique and modern—case in point, the vintage chandeliers and the LED lighting, the delicately painted wall frescoes and the large modern canvases.

Around

This vacation home for rent in Italy is located only four minutes by car or 20 minutes' walk by pathway from the town of Cernobbio, which sits at the foot of Monte Bisbino, northwest of Como. Popular as a holiday destination, it boasts a lovely lakeside piazza which offers access by ferry to many villages around the lake. The renowned Gatto Nero restaurant can be reached on foot.

For centuries, Lake Como has been a celebrated destination for royalty, aristocrats and celebrities to play and enjoy the unparalleled beauty of Italy's northern lake region. Based in the foothills of the Alps and offering dramatic views of the mountains and crystal clear waters, it is dotted with charming villages and spectacular villas along both legs of the waterfront. 

The town of Como itself is a short drive from the house at the lake's southernmost tip. The ferries are the best way to take in the many lake vistas and visit the famed towns of Bellagio, Tremezzo, and Varenna.

Location

Cernobbio, Lake Como, Italy. Nearest airport: Lugano (14 miles).

Best time to visit

April to October