Lake Como, Italy
Situated on the western shore of Lake Como, Villa Balbiano is an awe-inspiring Italian jewel, an exceptional historical palazzo that once belonged to the famous Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio, who built it at the end of 16th century and used it as his main residence. A century later, it was enlarged and embellished by Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini who used the Villa to host a gallant and frivolous society where festivals, banquets and dances followed one another relentlessly. Since then each successive owner only added to the splendor of the villa.