Terrazza Torno

Terrazzo Torno is a remarkable and secluded getaway off the beaten path in Lake Como. Arriving at the Villa is a grand and private experience. It took some communication to get the taxi driver to the final location. He stopped at the Mandarin Oriental gate though I had told him we were not going there. When we got to the right spot, he was hesitant to drive down the steep switchbacks to reach the villa but I had read another review that said you must insist! He still didn’t take us quite all the way there, but close enough. Built by a Count in the 18th century and lived in by a head of state under Napoleon, this Villa is rich in history. Though I had some anxiety about arriving at the specific check-in times leading up to it, the host Velda ended up being flexible and extremely responsive in communication! The home feels authentically Italian—bath-focused, simple bedding. Minimalist. Artistic. And a little funky. But the waves of lake Como are RIGHT there. The kitchen has the essentials for breakfasts and small meals. One quirk is also its strength: privacy and seclusion! To leave the property and get to the town of Torno is a minimum 20 minute hike through a beautiful (but steep and a little spooky at night) forest path. Or you can go up the switchbacks and walk on the narrow roads. This place is best with a rental car! Especially if you want to stay out for dinners. Torno is a small town with few frills and ferries! Overall, we loved it and it was great for our needs.

Top location. Sub-optimal für Jogger.

What an awesome time!! The property was absolutely beautiful. The grounds were very well kept. I was able to swim in Lake Como. The water was cold but it was so hot it turned out to be very refreshing. The hosts were amazing and they always answered the phone and got back to us if we had any questions. The inside was very nice, balcony was beautiful. Crazy views! We will be back maybe when it’s cold this time.

We took a bus from Nesso to Torno and had difficulty finding the property. Then, because we were late for check-in, we had to wait another several hours, which was very bothersome . But once we got to the beautiful property, everything was great, especially the nice balcony with views of the lake and mountains. Especially pleasurable were the park-like setting and walks including a relatively short walk into the charming little town of Torno and its market, bars and restaurants.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Villa Taverna. It was absolutely beautiful, quiet and the location on the water was ideal. It was better then the photos that we saw when booking. The elegance of the grounds and the villa were truly special. We felt like we were the only ones there! Velda was very kind to us and made sure we were comfortable, etc. We truly had a memorable stay here!

We fell in love with the view from the porch, and envisioned having our morning coffee sitting there watching the boats go by. Unfortunately, there was no coffee maker of any sort. Due to a knee injury, my husband needs to sleep with a pillow under his knee, but there were no spare pillows( just one allowed per person - we were told that that was the Italian way). In lieu of a pillow we rolled up the bath towels- but had only been given 2 and they were damp each night. We had been touring for 11 days and were very excited to see the washing machine …. However, it is only available for stays over a week. The checkin process is nerve racking - you have to pick an exact time to checkin. Our train was late, and there was an extra long line at the car rental place — and even with these delays we thought we were going to make it! But then a tree fell on the road in Como and we were stuck watching the fire department clear the road. Because the hostess works, there is no way to check in other than at your appointed time. We were able to make it there and she gave us a self checkin, but the lack of flexibility is tough when you are traveling. Unfortunately, the internet was not working, and my husband works while traveling. I repeatedly tried to get some help from the hostess, but it was never fixed. The apartment is in a beautiful place and was very clean,- but very “bare bones”. There was no welcoming note, just a notice of about 20 things we should not do while there.

I couldn't believe how beautiful the grounds and how much lake access the villa had. I would highly recommend. We felt like we had place to ourselves, as we rarely saw other owners. Only comment on finding gate, is once you see Mandarin gate and check-in roadside, you will be looking for similar gate just up road at end of Mandarin property

Exactly what I imagined when I thought of staying on Lake Como. Super rare find with a huge beautiful balcony on the water. Literally water front on a beautiful property with gardens. I’ve told my friends about this place so they get to have the real Lake Como experience too.

A great and relaxing stay at this beautiful property!

Very nice