Villa Pizzo on Lake Como, the villa you can see in full only from the water.
Weddings here are the stuff of legend: John Legend and Chrissy Teigen said “I do” on this very shore, and the gala dinners are not bad either. Alessandro Volta was one of its guests, and during the plague of 1629 the villa gave shelter to refugees.
Villa Pizzo likes to play hard to get. Unlike villas that are open to all, you can only visit it on a guided tour, by reservation, or arrive by boat from the lake. With Lake Como Experiences you can ask to see it on a boat tour.
Why is Villa Pizzo so loved? Let’s find out together.
Dreaming a Villa Pizzo Wedding
Picture it: you arrive from the lake, step onto the dock, and the terraced gardens and the Orangerie are waiting behind you.
Ever since John Legend and Chrissy Teigen got married here in 2013, in an intimate ceremony, the villa has been a sought-after wedding location. Villa Pizzo presents itself as a venue for weddings and photo shoots, with the pink villa, the terraced gardens and the lakeside dock as its setting.
Still comparing locations? Take a look at our selection of villas for a dream wedding on Lake Como.
Villa Pizzo History: from 1435 to Today
It all starts in 1435, when Giovanni Mugiasca, a merchant from Como, buys a plot of land at Pizzo. In the local dialect, a “pizzo” is a point of rock, which is exactly what the villa sits on. By 1569 a manor house already stands there: we know because it’s mentioned in a will. When it was built, nobody knows. But we are still a long way from the villa it would become.
Two centuries later, in 1629, during the plague, the Mugiasca family opens its doors to refugees. The terraces and stone walls that give the gardens their shape date from these years.
In 1842 a Mugiasca heir dies and leaves the villa to the Sant’Anna Hospital. Next comes Archduke Rainer of Austria, Viceroy of Lombardy-Venetia, who acquires the estate, and the landscape designer Villoresi, the same who worked on the Royal Villa in Monza, lays out its final gardens.
Did you know? Two cannons taken from Pizzo during the Five Days of Como, in the uprisings of 1848, are still kept at the villa.
Then it is Elise Musard’s turn: she gives the villa its pink color, and pink it still is today. Later the Volpi-Bassani family takes over. Pietro Volpi restores the villa and commissions the dock and the family mausoleum, both designed by Luca Beltrami.
What to See at Villa Pizzo
A Pink Villa with Simple, Geometric Lines
Don’t expect a showy villa. The architecture is simple and geometric, and the pink color Elise Musard gave it does the rest. To appreciate it, you need to step back and take in the whole shape against the hill and the water. From the lake, you can.
Terraced Gardens on Stone Walls
The gardens are built on terraces held up by stone walls, work that, as we have seen, goes back to the plague of 1629 and that Villoresi completed in the 19th century. Walking through them, you follow the slope of the spur down to the lake.
The Oratory, the Dock and the Mausoleum
The Oratory was remodeled by Giacomo Mugiasca with the architect Simone Cantoni. Down by the water, the dock and the family mausoleum are the work of Luca Beltrami. The mausoleum stands to the north of the vast English lawn, in one of the most romantic corners of the lake.
The Best Way to See Villa Pizzo: from the Water
From the water you can take in the whole estate at a glance: the dock on the shore, the terraces climbing the slope, the pink villa on top. It is the layout that took shape with the terraces of 1629, the gardens of the 19th century and the dock of the Volpi-Bassani years, and from the lake you get it all in a single look. On a private boat you also decide the pace: slow down where the view is best and take as many photos as you like.
How to Visit Villa Pizzo
Guided Tours at the Villa
Villa Pizzo can only be visited on guided tours. After its restoration, the villa reopened to visitors, and you can wander through the gardens on a guided walk or enjoy the sunset from the villa. A visit lasts about an hour and a half, you need to book by email, and private guided visits can be requested too. The calendar changes, so check the dates with the villa before you plan your trip.
The Private Boat Tour with a Captain
Or you can take our luxury private boat tour on Lake Como, land at Villa Pizzo and visit it with a guide. We take care of everything: we contact the villa and book for you. You choose the route and the captain takes care of the rest, so you can enjoy both the lake and Villa Pizzo in a single day.
On our boat tour you can set off from Como and pass Villa Olmo before leaving the city behind. Soon after, Villa d’Este appears in Cernobbio, just before Villa Pizzo. Keep going toward the center of the lake and you’ll reach Villa del Balbianello.
Visit Villa Pizzo between late spring and early autumn, when the gardens are at their best and the lake is at its most beautiful. For the softest light, go in the late afternoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you visit Villa Pizzo?
Yes, but only on guided tours, booked by email. You can also ask us to include it in a luxury private boat tour on Lake Como.
Can you see Villa Pizzo from the lake?
Yes, and the lake is the only place from which you can see it in full. The estate rises from the water in terraces, with the pink villa at its center.
Is Villa Pizzo a wedding venue?
Yes, the villa presents itself as a venue for weddings and photo shoots. Contact the villa directly for details.
Who built Villa Pizzo?
The manor house is mentioned in a will dating from before 1569, and nobody knows exactly when it was built. The land was bought in 1435 by Giovanni Mugiasca, a merchant from Como, and the family shaped the terraces and gardens.
Explore All Our Experiences
Ready to see Villa Pizzo from the water? Take a look at our boat tours, tell us your dates and leave the rest to us.
