Moltrasio and the Versace home on the lake
by Marina Miari
A small but splendid castle
on the shore of Lake Como houses Gianni Versace's
precious villa: his "real home".
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The tiny, romantic village of Moltrasio on the shore of Lake Como, site
of the late designer Gianni Versace's splendid weekend retreat, Le Fontanelle,
was suddenly catapulted to the front pages of newspapers around the world
in the wake of his tragic death. It is well-known that Versace considered
the villa his principal residence and true home. Why did Versace love Moltrasio
so? It was here he chose to be buried. Surely he loved its peace and tranquillity;
the relaxation he found there, the mild climate, the area's fascinating
past and lingering aire of antiquity.
Well-loved by Churchill
Moltrasio, two kilometres from the famous Villa d'Este in Cernobbio (and
8 kilometres from Como) is a village untouched by the passage of time:
newly constructed houses are a rarity and the lake is edged by a string
of ancient villas. Only 50 kilometres from Milano, Moltrasio was the vacation
spot preferred by the Lombard nobility in the 1700's, and became popular
with the wealthy merchant class. Spectacular villas and gardens were built,
visited by prominent personages. During the last century, the composer Vincenzo
Bellini spent several years at the Villa Herker-Hocevar and the Villa
Passalacqua. Winston Churchill spent a long sojourn at the Villa Le Rose
in 1945. The conductor Arturo Toscanini was a guest of the Sacchi family.
One of the oldest villas, Villa Pizzo, has recently been opened to the public by appointment.
The enormous park borders that Gianni Versace's Villa Le Fontanelle, which is open to the public for a fee, from Aprile-October (Closed in August) Fridays 14:00-17:00 and Saturdays 9:30-12:30.
For informations and reservations: 031/511710.
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On the Golden Lake
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