Villa Carlotta was built at the end of the 17th century between Lake Como and the mountains, facing the dolomitic Grignas and the peninsula of Bellagio. The villa created for the Clericis, a powerful Milanese family, had an Italian garden decorated with sculptures, stairs and fountains. In 1801 Gian Battista Sommariva, famous politician and patron of arts, bought the villa and it became one of the most important places on the Grand Tour.
In the the second half of the century Princess Marianne of Nassau bought the villa and gave it as a present to her daughter, Carlotta, on her marriage with Georg II of Saxe-Meiningen. Georg was passionate about botany and made lots of improvements and new additions to the park. And so we have the beautiful garden and park today. |
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