The waters of the Lago di Como lap the beautiful botanical gardens of the Villa Monastero at Varenna on the lake's eastern shore in Lombardy, Italy. The gardens feature hundreds of species of rare and exotic trees and plants from all over the world, thriving in the mild climate of the Italian Lake District.
Varenna, Lombardy, Italy: the beautiful gardens of the Villa Monastero are rich in rare and exotic botanical species. They occupy a narrow strip of land stretching 2 km (1 mile) south along the eastern shore of the Lago di Como, from Varenna to Fiumelatte. The Villa Monastero was founded as a Cistercian convent in the 12th century. It thrived for several hundred years, but closed in 1567 after going into decline. In 1569, the convent and its extensive estates were purchased by mine-owner Paolo Mornico, and in the 17th century his descendants rebuilt it, with the remains of the monastic buildings now covered by their villa. It was further modified in the Eclectic style in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Milanese De Marchi family donated the Villa Monastero to the public in 1936 and the gardens opened to visitors in 1940. The property has since been converted into a museum and conference centre and the entire complex is now owned by the Province of Lecco. The Congress Centre, built in 1953, hosts cultural and scientific conferences, including the summer courses of the prestigious Italian School of Physics, which have been attended by more than 60 Nobel Prize winners. The mild Italian Lake District climate encourages rare trees and plants to thrive in the gardens. More than 900 species grow here, including African and American palm trees, agaves, yuccas, citrus fruits and oleanders, plus botanical rarities planted on narrow landscaped terraces. Collections include cedars of Lebanon, jasmine, aromatic herbs, ferns, peonies, English roses, and rare wisteria and hydrangea. The gardens are further enhanced by features such as small temples, wellheads, decorative reliefs, fountains and statues.
Size: 4214px × 2799px
Location: Varenna, Lake Como, Lombardy, Italy.
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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