Majestic Art-nouveau Villa In A High Position Above Lake Como

In a high position by Lake Como, just above the town of Brunate, this marvellous property for sale - built in 1892 for the Counts Crespi di Vaprio d'Adda - is one of the earliest architectural masterpieces in the pre-Art Nouveau style. Comprising several buildings, totalling 1,200 sqm, within an enchanting 1.2-hectare park of centuries-old beech trees and valuable plants, the entire property has undergone several conservative renovations aimed at preserving the precious materials of the period, first in 2002 and more recently between 2019 and 2022.

Reachable from the centre of Como by funicular in just seven minutes or a fifteen-minute drive along the main road, the estate faces south over the Lombardy plain towards Milan, offering a panoramic view that reaches as far as the hills of Piacenza, the Ligurian Apennines, Monviso and the Monte Rosa chain.

Immersed in nature in a location of absolute privacy, yet without being isolated, it consists of a four-storey main villa measuring 500 sqm, a 320-sqm annexe, the concierge's premises, measuring 150 sqm on two levels, an old restored lemon house of 70 sqm and finally a charming tower on three floors. A greenhouse with a vegetable garden, a rustic cottage to be recovered as living quarters and a big garage complete this majestic property.

In the upper part of the garden is the splendid swimming pool with a large heated natural stone pool, served by a bar, and a parking area protected by a removable glass roof.

The main building is a construction with a Celtic cross plan. The lower floor, at garden level, is characterised by beautiful brick barrel ceilings framing the kitchen and dining area with a fireplace, a beautiful bow window, and a big ventilated cellar. The utility rooms include a laundry, a boiler room, a bathroom and a pantry with an ironing room. The main entrance is on the ground floor, on the upper level of the garden, with a bow window, a cloakroom, a big bathroom, two living rooms both with fireplaces, a study with a bookcase, a small bar room and a veranda to the south of the main façade that houses another panoramic living room.

Going up to the first floor, used as a sleeping area, we find three bedrooms, all with their own bathroom and a special wardrobe. The top floor adds two bedrooms with a fireplace and panoramic balconies, a bathroom, a make-up room and a cloakroom.

The outbuilding, set slightly behind but higher than the villa, enjoys the same panoramic view. The living room on the upper floor is adorned by a monumental fireplace of 17th-century origin from Burgundy, which is flanked by a spacious kitchen and a study with bathroom and double independent access, one from the rear, towards the porter's lodge, and the other from the street front, via a sheltered portico. On the lower floor, served by an internal lift, the sleeping area consists of three bedrooms with access to the garden and three dedicated en-suite bathrooms, as well as a big cloakroom. A boiler room with a laundry area and a large storage cellar complete this area.

The concierge's premises are home to, on the ground floor, with independent access, a big kitchen with a dining area and a bathroom. On the upper floor is a living room that serves as a hallway to two bedrooms, one of which has an internal wardrobe, and a bathroom.

Further rooms have been created in the 70 sqm of the former lemon house, finely converted into a small flat with two bedrooms and their own bathroom.

The three-storey tower soars above the lake in a north-westerly direction, offering breathtaking views of the lake scenery in front of it from the top level. The ground floor is currently used as a bathroom for the swimming pool, below which is a greenhouse consisting of two rooms: one a work area with a fireplace and water source and the other glazed and irrigated for cultivation. On a lower level, the vegetable garden is completed by a flat area suitable for outdoor cultivation.

Finally, a rustic building, currently used for storage but potentially recoverable for residential purposes as a small independent unit, enriches the surface area by a further 120 sqm, 60 sqm per floor.

A completely renovated building is used as a garage and offers shelter for up to five cars, next to a large service room with laundry, ironing room and storage room with independent access.

The perfect viability within the park is guaranteed by pedestrian paths that run along its internal extension. The garden, furnished in some points with panoramic stone lounges, typical of the period of construction, boasts scenic lighting with twilight control lights.

There are two driveways, both automated, while there are five pedestrian entrances, located on all sides of this luxurious property for sale by Lake Como.