Villa del Balbianello and Star Wars – Visiting Filming Location

If you’re a Star Wars fan, you can’t miss visiting Villa del Balbianello in Lake Como! ⭐️

Villa del Balbianello was used as a filming location in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones by George Lucas and today many visitors like to come to take a photo where some of the most beautiful scenes of Episode II were filmed. And if you ask me, I personally love visiting popular filming locations and let my imagination spark.

In this blog post find out what are the most popular photography spots alongside some general info and tips about visiting Villa del Balbianello.

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About Villa del Balbianello

The villa was built at the end of the 18th century by Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini on the site of an old Franciscan Monastery. In the 19th century Villa del Balbianello was inherited by his grandson Count Luigi Porro Lambertenghi.

Later, the villa was purchased by Marquis Giuseppe Arconati Visconti, who made some improvements to its gardens and the famous loggia. Unfortunately as the family declined, the villa was neglected.

In 1919, Villa del Balbianello was purchased by Butler Ames, an American soldier and businessman who restored it. In 1974 Ames’s heirs gave the villa to the famous entrepreneur and explorer Guido Monzino. He decorated the villa with artefacts and souvenirs he got from his travels and expeditions. Monzino died and donated Villa del Balbianello to FAI (Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano).

🎬 Apart from Star Wars, Casino Royale with Daniel Craig was also filmed at Villa Balbianello.

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is the second film in the Star Wars prequel trilogy directed by George Lucas in 2002. The plot is set ten years later after The Phantom Menace and the battle of Naboo and follows the galaxy at the edge of the civil war where the Galactic Republic is under the threat from the Separatist movement led by former Jedi Count Dooku.

Padmé Amidala, who is now a senator, asks Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker to protect her. Anakin and Padme eventually fall in love despite the Jedi’s code that forbids any romantic relationships. Anakin and Padme get secretly married and those romantic love scenes in Episode II happen at Villa del Balbianello. 🥰

Photo Credit: Devian Art

Villa del Balbianello in Star Wars

Now, let’s see what parts of Villa del Balbianello were used as a filming location for Star Wars.

Varykino (Lake Retreat)

Villa del Balbianello was used as Varykino (Lake Retreat) in Naboo. If you’re approaching Villa del Balbianello from the water or you’re on a boat tour around Lake Como, this will be your view as shown below.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons (edited)

This is how it was shown in the movie, but it is CGI-edited (first few second of the video):

Stairs from the lake to the terrace

If you continue watching the video above, you will see Anakin and Padme descending from the boat, taking the stairs from the lake up to the long terrace with red flowers. There they have their first kiss.

This long terrace is on the lower grounds of Villa del Balbianello and if you’re not coming from the lake, but you took a hiking train instead, then this part of the villa gardens will be at the very end of your exploring.

✅ Read my blog post where I shared more about how to get to Villa del Balbianello from main Lake Como towns with some general visiting tips: How to Get to Villa del Balbianello – Exclusive Guide

Later, they get married there in secret with R2D2 and C3PO as their witness and the only ones in attendance as shown in this video below.

The loggia

The loggia is the most beautiful part of Villa del Balbianello gardens. It is there where Anakin came after his nightmare. Padme comes after him and then he tells her how he saw his mother in pain and how he must return to Tatooine to try and save her.

This is the scene:

Padme’s Bedroom Deleted Scene

Unfortunately this is the deleted scene which offered us a more intimate look at Padmé’s past personal life. While packing her things to go to the Lake Retreat, Padmé tells Anakin about the holographic images hanging on her wall. They depict important moments in her life, including her first day as an apprentice legislator.

The scene starts with the house where the villa was shot from below, but it got CGI-edited just like the scene from the lake that we saw above.

The deleted scene:

The interior of the villa was also used in the deleted scene above, but they removed some furniture and rugs.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons (edited)

Visiting Villa del Balbianello Tips

While I shared more about visiting Villa del Balbianello in my How to Get to Villa del Balbianello – Exclusive Guide blog post, here’s a concise version with the most important tips and top recommendations. 🙂

Villa del Balbianello Tickets

Firstly, let me say that you have to buy your tickets A LOT IN ADVANCE!

There are 2 kinds of tickets you can get: villa + garden or garden-only ticket.

If you want to buy a villa + garden ticket, you have to do it AT LEAST one month before! For the gardens-only AT LEAST 2 weeks in advance! Unfortunately I was late to the game and was only able to purchase garden tickets and I was visiting in May!

✅ BUY YOUR TICKETS

Opening Times

The villa is open from mid-March to the end of November from 10 am to 6 pm (last entrance is at 5 pm!).

It is NOT open on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Where to stay near Villa del Balbianello

Hotel Lenno is the closest hotel to Villa del Balbianello. It is located in Lenno town just where the villa is too. It is 30 min walking distance from the hotel. You can also walk 3 min to the Taxi Boat Villa del Balbianello if you choose to take a taxi boat to reach the villa. The taxi goes every 20 minutes and can fit up to 10 persons approximately, so just something to keep in mind.

Villa del Balbianello Tour

I recommend this tour to Villa del Balbianello: LA DOLCE VITA : Lake Como 1h Cruise + Villa Balbianello (Guided)

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May the Force be with you.