The Villa is a national monument for Italy. It was constructed in the 1700\u2019s by Count Passa who had been granted the property by the sister of Pope Innocent XI. It\u2019s most famous long term visitor was Vincenzo Bellini who lived here from 1829-1833 and wrote his most famous operas here (Norma and Sonnambula).<\/p>\n
The Swiss architect, Felice Soave, designed the house to have a simple symmetrical fa\u00e7ade with a richly elaborate interior. The ceilings on the public rooms as well as the bedrooms are ornately decorated and painted. The \ufb02oors are a beautiful mixture of Cotto Lombardo, Seminato, and dark antique wood. The Villa is \ufb01lled with beautiful paintings, sculptures, rugs, tapestries and Venetian chandeliers.<\/p>\n
he Kitchen is large and airy with subzero refrigerators and wine coolers, Viking and Gaggeneau ovens, grills and ranges, 4 disposals, 2 dish washers, a vegetable and \ufb01sh steamer and a fryer. The counter tops are made of Verona marble and the cabinetry is richly decorated, hand-carved wood. The most prominent feature of the kitchen is two 8 foot high stone \ufb01replaces that are original to the Villa and bear the Passalacqua family emblem.\u2028\u2028The Dining Room is an oval shaped room with 16 marble columns. The most important fresco in the Villa sits above the dining room<\/p>\n
table. It is a fresco by Andrea Appiani who was Europe\u2019s foremost neoclassical artist at the turn of the 19th century. The Tuscan Dining Room is more casual and \ufb01lled with period Tuscan furniture. Here there is a separate sitting area with marble \ufb01replace and television for relaxing and enjoying the views.\u2028\u2028On the ground \ufb02oor is a beautiful den, with a computer and internet connection. There is also a Billiard Room with a hand-carved English Snooker table. For nights when our guests want to stay in, there is a cinema with a large screen and cinema quality sound system. The cinema houses one of the Villa\u2019s most incredible \ufb01replaces and an exquisite mahogany bar.\u2028\u2028On the \ufb01rst \ufb02oor is a beautiful workout room. It has gorgeous views of the lake and the mountains in the back of the Villa. There is a stereo system, television, weights, Glidex, Stair stepper, Punching Bag and numerous exercise DVDs. The \ufb02oors are antique, decorative wood and the ceiling is richly carved.<\/p>\n
There are nine suites in the Villa that average over 1,300 square feet. They are all unique and beautiful. They all have high and carved ceilings, antique \ufb02oors and spectacular bathrooms. The rooms are \ufb01lled with antique furniture, Persian rugs, Venetian chandeliers and beautiful art. Some of the bathrooms have Philippe Starck designed wash basins, bathtubs and W\/Cs while others have antique French and English large trough bathtubs and ornate wash basins.<\/p>\n
There is a beautifully restored antique Bluethner piano that once sat in the Leipzig Concert Hall. It rests in the Music Room which is a spectacular room with 30 ft. high ceilings, Albertolli frescoes and stunning views of the lake.<\/p>\n
The Villa \u00a0is children friendly. In the back garden next to the kitchen is a wonderful outdoor play area with beautiful wooden slide, swing set and rope climb. There is a large children\u2019s play room on the \ufb01rst \ufb02oor next to the music room and a small children\u2019s playroom next to the kitchen.<\/p>\n
There is also a nearby Villa that\u00a0has\u00a06 bedrooms and all have lake views.<\/p>\n