Villa Olmo in Como

According to legend, the name of the villa goes back to a huge elm tree ( Olmo ), which tradition tells that Plinio the Younger which planted and which once adorned the park of the villa.

The original plans for the villa in neoclassical style (today the central building) come from Simone Cantoni from Muggio in the canton Ticino, designed in the late 18th century. The first owner is Innocenzo Odescalchi, the following owners expand the building by adding wings, but without spoiling the stylistic face of the villa.
Among the famous guests are; ren Napoleon and Garibaldi . Today the villa belongs to the city of Como, which has been using it for cultural events since the restoration.

The main facade is oriented towards Lake Como and consists of the central building (i.e. the original villa)- which is rhythmically divided by columns and optical facade structures and is closed at the top by a roof terrace with statues- as well as from the two side buildings.

The clearly structured exterior is transformed inside into a sumptuous interior.   It is in abundance with stucco, gold decorations and frescoes by artists of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Among all the rooms, the Teatrino , a small theater with 92 seats (1853), particularly stands out due to its decorative charm and the frescoes by Fontana.
In the park is a small neoclassical temple and also a small   Bach flows in the garden. In the middle of the garden & ndash; across from the villa & ndash; there is a fountain showing two children playing with a sea monster; a work by the sculptor G. Odofrechi.
The attic   the villa is dedicated to an exhibition by the architect Antonio Sant & rsquo; Elia (1886-1916), the first proponent of futuristic architecture.

REGION: Lake Como, South Villas/Plays/Parks/Sights