Villa Carlotta is known all over Europe for its artistic beauties and for its wonderful botanical park.
The villa was built at the end of 17th century for Giorgio Clerici but it attained the summit of its splendor thanks to Gian Battista Sommariva who bought it in 1801: the garden turned to a romantic park with grottos, winding paths and perspective glimpses and he collected masterpieces of Canova, Thorvaldsen and Hayez.
Princesse Marianne of Nassau gave the villa as a present to her daughter Carlotta in occasion of her wedding to George II of Saxe-Meiningen; he made a lot of improvements and the park became famous internationally over the years.
The park of Villa Carlotta is famous for the stunning spring flowering of Rhododendrons and azaleas in more than 150 varieties. No matter when but the visit is interesting in every part of the year.
