Lake Como

Subterms

    Latest story

    175 Shares169 Views

    You Can Rent the Lake Como Cottage from Amazon’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith IRL

    by

    In Amazon‘s adaptation of the 2005 blockbuster film Mr. & Mrs. Smith, John (Donald Glover) and Jane (Maya Erskine) jet off to Italy’s Lake Como for an extraction mission. Now, if you want to make like a couple of spies in an arranged marriage, you can book the same lakeside cottage that the faux-couple stayed in in the limited series. 

    Nestled on the picturesque Faggeto Lario shoreline, the charmingly unfussy, and spectacularly sited rental property is known as The Writer’s Nest and actually dates back to the 1800s. Built within a stone quarry, the centuries-old hideaway is where author Giuseppe Guin famously penned his novels (hence the name). Altogether, the nearly 1,300-square-foot spread comprises three bedrooms and two bathrooms and begins at just shy of $860 per night.  

    [embedded content]

    “At the bottom of the quarry, the overhanging rock still retains the signs of the stone quarrymen who worked there for centuries, drawing stones from the mountains to build homes and churches of Lake Como,” notes the listing. 

    The idyllic retreat is surrounded by a grassy beach and dotted with circular stepped rocks, which, according to the listing, were formerly used by “the fishermen of twaite shads and perchs.” Inside, the charming pad is filled with antiques and natural materials. Most notably, the home’s library was made from chestnut wood that is hundreds of years old. Elsewhere, the kitchen features a sink carved into granite. There are also hand-forged iron lanterns and a glass veranda that overlooks the lake. Of course, there are a slew of modern comforts too, including air conditioning, a washing machine, a dishwasher, and Wi-Fi.  

    You can rent the Lake Como house from episode 5 of Prime Video’s Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

    David Lee/Prime Video

    If you’re up for exploring the grounds, the property features a barbecue area, an outdoor dining table, and sunbeds for lounging. The Writer’s Nest can only be accessed by boat, and a private transfer can be arranged during your stay. 

    In the streamer reboot, which hit Prime Video in February, two secret agents who have never met are brought together in an arranged marriage as Mr. and Mrs. John and Jane Smith. Every week, the duo must complete a high-risk mission while also navigating a budding romance between them. Since the eight-episode show premiered last month, web searches for travel to Lake Como have increased by a whopping 36 percent, according to HomeToGo. The trend marks a similar phenomenon to what occurred after viewers tuned into seasons one and two of The White Lotus. 

    Authors

    Abby Montanez

    Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, dining, travel and topics…

    Read More More

    More stories

    • 163 Shares169 Views

      in Luxury

      George Clooney Is Definitely Not Selling His Lake Como Villa. Or Is He?

      by

      Is George Clooney saying arrivederci to his longtime Lake Como estate? 

      Well, not if you ask him. Rumors have been circulating that the 62-year-old actor is offloading the iconic Villa Oleandra. However, the Ocean’s Eleven star recently assured People that any speculation of a sale is false. “The first I heard of it was when Page Six published the story. Everyone picked it up. It’s not true,” Clooney told the outlet via a rep. Sorry to disappoint.  

      It all started earlier this month when a source close to the ER actor told Page Six that the famous villa in Laglio was on the market sotto voce for an eye-watering €100 million ($107 million), which is about 10 times the $10 million he paid for the place back in 2002. “It’s very quiet. No advertising. No press—just high net worth [prospective buyers],” they said. Then, just last week, real estate agent Yasemin Baysal, owner of Engel & Volkers Lago di Como, told Italy’s Oggi magazine that Clooney was definitely parting ways with his pad of over 20 years and that the spread might even have a buyer.  

      “Rumors were also circulating in past years, but this time it’s true. An agency in Milan is following the sale. I can’t reveal which one. Since we have a certain type of clientele, someone has already called us,” Baysal explained to the publication. “In particular, one customer is very interested. We have started all the necessary checks before submitting a possible offer.”

      George Clooney has denied reports that he’s selling his 18th-century villa on Italy’s Lake Como.

      GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

      Even though the agent swears it’s true, the two-time Oscar winner has since denied her statement. Oggi also reported that the reason for the rumored sale is because his lawyer wife, Amal Clooney, prefers to spend time in Provence, where the couple owns the 425-acre wine estate Domaine du Canadel.  

      The 18th-century residence is one of the largest lakeside homes in the area and comprises a whopping 25 rooms, plus a swimming pool, a private gym, a movie theater, a basketball court, and two boat docks. Villa Oleander had previously been owned by the late billionaire condiment heir John Heinz and his wife Teresa; it was Heinz’s heirs who sold the property to Clooney. 

      According to The Wall Street Journal, homes in the prime waterfront villages along Lake Como are going for twice as much compared to the area’s landlocked properties, mainly because single-family homes on the shore of the pristine lake rarely hit the market. That means, no matter the asking price, if and when Clooney does decide to part ways with his famous villa, we can probably expect a bidding war.   More

    • 200 Shares159 Views

      in Vacation Homes

      The Lavish Lake Como Villa from ‘House of Gucci’ Is Coming to Airbnb—for One Lucky Guest

      by

      “House of Gucci” hits theaters today, and if you want to live like Patrizia Reggiani and Maurizio Gucci (played by Lady Gaga and Adam Driver, respectively), you’re in luck: One of the family homes featured in the film is now available for an overnight stay via Airbnb for $1,125—but only for one lucky booker.

      The grand Lake Como residence stars as Aldo Gucci’s home in the film. Gucci was the chairman of the fashion house from 1953 to 1986; he was the eldest son of founder Guccio Gucci. A wide shot of the home’s facade appears within the first 15 seconds of the trailer.

      The living room 

      Photo: Bruno Erhs

      Outside of the Ridley Scott drama, the mansion is known as Villa Balbiano. According to the Airbnb listing, it’s one of the largest private residences on Lake Como. It was originally built for Tolomeo Gallio, an Italian cardinal, at the end of the 16th century. Angelo Maria Durini, another cardinal, took over the property a century later and used it as a party pad where he hosted many lavish festivals and banquets.

      Many of the art and antiques found in the home were sourced from Christie’s and Sotheby’s. 

      Photo: Bruno Erhs

      Today the home is still a remarkable place to live (or to throw an over-the-top party). There are frescoes on the wall that date back to the 17th century by brothers Giovanni Battista Recchi and Giovanni Paolo Recchi, as well as ones by Agostino Silva. Many of the collectible furnishings and artworks that decorate the residence were sourced from Christie’s and Sotheby’s. 

      One of the bedrooms 

      Photo: Bruno Erhs

      The home has six suites altogether, and each was designed by revered French architect Jacques Garcia. Outside there’s a pool, plus a private pier and boathouse for those who want to spend time out on Lake Como’s picturesque waters.

      One of the bathrooms 

      Photo: Bruno Erhs

      The catch? You’ll only be able to book the place for one night. The Airbnb host is making the Italian villa available on March 30, 2022, for one guest and a plus one to spend the night in the primary suite. Bookings open on December 6 at 12 pm EST, so if you see “House of Gucci” between now and then and have your heart set on the home, best mark your calendar.

      Check out more photos of the villa below: More