Unique Lake Como Mansion in Menaggio

This unique Italian mansion on Lake Como is a real gem. It was designed at the beginning of the 20th century by the famous architect Giacomo Mantegazza for the Prussian Prince Karl Sigismund and built between 1910 and 1912.

The architecture shows a more free style with less symmetry compared to the severity typical of the 19th century. The architecture is eclectic and adorned with Art Nouveau ornaments as the villa was not only intended for representation but also for well-being.

This prestigious property will impress you as soon as you enter the important wrought iron gate next to the gatehouse. Two imposing roads lead to the main villa surrounded by its approx. one hectare mature park. The main villa has a dominant position from which extensive views of Lake Como, Villa La Gaeta, the Grigne mountain chain, Varenna and Bellagio can be enjoyed.

The villa is set on three floors plus a tower. The classic beauty of its architecture is breathtaking. The exterior is mainly covered with bricks and features many architectural details adorning the arched windows, stone columns, capitals and decorative elements under the roof pitches. The roof with ancient tiles boasts elegant chimneys. The tower is an important architectural element, no longer just a watchtower, but an integrated part of the villa from which a magnificent view of the lake and the mountains can be admired. With its rounded buttresses the colonnade is no longer placed next to the villa, but it is part of the base and forms an essential part of the whole architecture.

The entrance hall is accessed from a spacious covered terrace. Two reception rooms with frescoed walls and ceilings as well as a winter garden with original windows are facing the lake. Furthermore there is a dining room, a large kitchen and a powder room.
The first floor accommodates four bedrooms and three bathrooms, and the second floor hosts 5 bedrooms, three bathrooms, a spacious storage room and the staircase leading to the tower with a large billiard room. The tall windows on all four sides provide lots of light and a unique view of the lake.
An internal staircase leads from the ground floor to the garden floor opening onto the park. A spacious room with vaulted brick ceilings could host an indoor swimming pool. In addition there is a wine cellar, a wc, a cloakroom, a laundry room and a boiler room.

The gatehouse of approx. 160 sqm has a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom on the ground floor and two bedrooms and a bathroom on 1st floor.
An outbuilding with a gross area of approx. 160 sqm may be transformed into a second annex with several suites or a spa and gym. In this area of ​​the property there is a large vegetable garden and a greenhouse.

A large, recently constructed underground passage, also designed by Mantegazza, gives access to a flat lakeside plot of approx. 2,000 sqm – a rarity on Lake Como. Here it is possible to land a helicopter or build a swimming pool and a standard tennis court. The spacious boathouse accommodates boats up to 10 m, for instance a Riva Aquarama, and can be used also during winter, thanks to its depth. In this area there is also a small building with a kitchen and bathroom. The boathouse is well protected by a marina, and an adjacent large dry dock can be used for storage of boats and equipment. There is a huge terrace with sweeping lake views on top of the boathouse. This area of ​​the property is completed by an elevated sunbathing area and a private beach.

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