Villa Artemisia

On the shores of Lake Como — the most celebrated lake in Europe and one of the world's most enduringly romantic destinations — Villa Artemisia stands as one of the grandest private estate rentals in Italy. This is a property of genuine historical significance and extraordinary beauty: a rose-façaded 19th-century Italian villa set within acres of mature botanical gardens, commanding sweeping views over the lake and the snow-capped Alpine peaks beyond.

Approached along a sweeping cobbled drive flanked by Japanese maples in vivid crimson and emerald, the villa reveals itself through a canopy of ancient cedars, sequoias, palms, and flowering rhododendrons — a botanical garden of rare diversity and maturity that took generations to cultivate. Stone-paved terraces with granite columns and ornate ironwork balustrades frame the lake view on multiple levels, furnished with colourful contemporary lounge pieces that add a joyful note of modernity to the historic setting. The estate's garden descends through immaculate lawns to a stone belvedere wall, where a panorama of Lake Como and the towering Alps — including glimpses of the Bellagio peninsula — presents itself in all its legendary splendour.

The outdoor pool is flanked by a pair of stone lion sculptures and set within a perfectly maintained lawn garden, with Italian cypress sentinels and distant mountain peaks as the backdrop — a scene of classical Italian grandeur. Inside the villa, a separate indoor lap pool in signature jade green is lined by a wall of full-height windows overlooking the gardens, with poolside reclining chairs in matching green that mirror the estate's extraordinary natural palette.

A fully equipped private gym ensures that the villa functions as a complete private resort — spin bikes, treadmill, cable station, free weights — all available exclusively to guests. The interiors of the main villa are a masterclass in layered, sophisticated Italian style: the principal living room features Barcelona chairs, a contemporary modular sofa, Persian-influenced rugs, tropical-print floor-to-ceiling curtains, and carefully curated contemporary art — a room that feels simultaneously rooted in European tradition and alive with current design sensibility. A vaulted brick-ceiling dining room with designer pendant lighting, Eames-inspired chairs, and a Saarinen-style tulip table adds a second layer of design wit — historic architecture in conversation with mid-century modernism. Throughout the villa, ten bedrooms are appointed with the same attention to detail, each a restful sanctuary within this extraordinary estate.

Whether you are planning a landmark family gathering, a high-profile corporate retreat, a destination wedding on the shores of Lake Como, or simply the most beautiful private holiday of your life, Villa Artemisia is the definitive luxury villa rental on Lake Como — a property that carries the weight of history and the lightness of a perfect Italian summer.