Villa Balbiano

The Literal House From ‘House of Gucci’ Is Now on Airbnb | Vogue

"In House of Gucci, family patriarch Aldo Gucci resides in a grand 16th‑century palazzo with lush gardens, baroque‑era frescos, and ornate gilded interiors—recognizable in real life as Villa Balbiano, one of Lake Como’s most iconic homes. Now available on Airbnb only for a brief time in March, the estate actually dates to the 17th century and was most famously home to Cardinal Durini in the 18th, when he amassed a large art collection and expanded the property with additional structures, including a church, turning it into a gathering place for Italian intellectuals. Today it’s filled with antique furniture sourced from auctions at Sotheby’s and Christies; the 17th‑century frescos by Baroque painters the Recchi brothers and Agostino Silva remain remarkably preserved; and famed French interior Jacques Garcia helped modernize the six suites for present‑day visitors, with crystal chandeliers, marble bathrooms, and jewel‑toned velvet furniture adding luxurious touches." - Elise Taylor