Museo di Villa Melzi
Museum in the former orangery of the Gardens of Villa Melzi in Bellagio, presenting the history of the villa and an Antiquarium of archaeological finds.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum occupies the former orangery of the Gardens of Villa Melzi d’Eril in Bellagio, the complex built between 1808 and 1810 by Francesco Melzi d’Eril, Duke of Lodi and vice president of the Napoleonic Italian Republic. In the seventies Count Lodovico Gallarati Scotti turned the orangery into an exhibition space, gathering pieces from the family collections, artistic testimonies of the Lake Como area and documents linked to the founder and the Napoleonic period.
Today the museum, reorganised and redisplayed, spans two floors, both reachable from the garden. On the upper level the section “Arte Storia Natura” tells the story of the founder, the construction of the villa and gardens, the families who owned it and the rituals of lakeside holidays. On the lower level the Antiquarium holds archaeological and ancient art finds collected by the Melzi d’Eril and Gallarati Scotti families.
The archaeological collection includes Roman, Greek and Etruscan finds, Eastern ceramics, testimonies of Art Deco and some 19th- and 20th-century replicas of ancient objects, as well as sculptures from the Venetian collection of Angelo Querini, such as the statues of the goddess Sekhmet and a marine Venus.
Highlights
- “Arte Storia Natura” section in the former orangery
- Antiquarium with Roman, Greek and Etruscan finds
- Sculptures from the Querini collection, including the statues of Sekhmet
- Memorabilia of founder Francesco Melzi d’Eril and the Napoleonic era
- Combined ticket with gardens and chapel
- Operated by
- Famiglia Gallarati Scotti
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 10 · Free admission for children up to 11 years old. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with severe disabilities who cannot manage independently, and one companion. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €8 per personGroups of at least 15 people; for schools €6.50 per person. |
| Ticket valid for two days or more (from) | €14 |
| School group | €6.50 |
| Seasonal pass | €50 |
The ticket includes access to the gardens, chapel and museum and is valid for one day only, unless stamped at the ticket office; it is bought at the ticket office at the gardens’ entrance on the day of the visit, without booking. The villa is private and cannot be visited.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The toilets are below the museum, next to the villa.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
There are no refreshment facilities inside the gardens; packed lunches are allowed only on the benches or in the space below the museum, near the toilets. Picnics are not allowed.
Events & venue rental
As far as we know, the museum does not rent out spaces for external events.
The spaces cannot be rented for private events, weddings or ceremonies; professional photo shoots are possible for a fee.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Professional photo shoots for private purposes are available on request and for a fee; drones are not permitted. |
| Good to know | Guided tours on all opening days, by booking via e-mail (visite@giardinidivillamelzi.it). Offers are available for groups, travel agencies and schools. Dogs on a lead are allowed, including in the museum and chapel. |
