Ville Aperte in Brianza: Spring Edition Kicks Off

Once again this year, the Province of Lecco renews its participation in Ville Aperte in Brianza, an event organized by the Province of Monza and Brianza, now in its 24th edition, featuring:

The Spring edition (from May 9 to 17), focusing exclusively on the opening of the ville di delizia (historic pleasure villas) in the provinces of Monza and Brianza, Como, Lecco, and Milan.
The Autumn edition (from September 19 to October 4), featuring the opening of all historical and artistic sites partnered with the event.

“In 2026, the Province of Lecco enthusiastically renews its participation in the Ville Aperte in Brianza event to promote and enhance sites of historical, cultural, artistic, landscape, and hiking interest within our territory,” comment President Alessandra Hofmann and the Provincial Councilor delegated to Culture, Cultural Heritage, and Tourism, Silvia Bosio. “We offer our praise and thanks to the Province of Monza and Brianza for their exceptional organizational and coordination work, for their ability to consolidate the network of public and private partners over time, and for expanding guided tours, itineraries, and activities, offering the public new opportunities to discover previously unseen spaces.”

The Province of Lecco participates directly in the initiative with Villa Monastero in Varenna, a complex comprising an eclectic late 19th-century residence—now a House Museum—and a Botanical Garden that extends for nearly 1 km along the eastern shore of the lake.

For Villa Monastero, 2025 concluded with a new record compared to the previous year, recording nearly 400,000 visitors. This increase testifies to the ongoing process of enhancing and promoting the site through conservative restoration interventions and multimedia support for tours. Furthermore, in 2026, Villa Monastero is hosting an experimental tour route dedicated to vulnerable individuals, funded by the Interreg VI-A Italy-Switzerland 2021-2027 program.

On May 9, 10, 16, and 17, visitors can access Villa Monastero with a reduced-price ticket. Additionally, on these same days (except Saturday, May 10), guided tours are available through the House Museum, with its period furnishings and rooms, and the Botanical Garden, rich in exotic species. The cost is 7 euros (in addition to the entrance ticket), with tours starting at 2:30 PM in Italian and 4:30 PM in English. Mandatory booking is required on the website www.villeaperte.info. Entrance and guided tour tickets can also be purchased at www.villamonastero.eu.

The other residences in the Lecco area participating in the Spring edition are:

Villa Moriggia Castelfranchi in Calco
Villa Mapelli Mozzi in Casatenovo
Historic Gardens of Villa Bertarelli in Galbiate
Villa Vercelli in La Valletta Brianza
Villa De Ferrari Bagatti Valsecchi and Villa Calchi in Merate
Villa Sormani Marzorati Uva in Missaglia
Casa Bonanomi in Osnago
Villa Besana in Sirtori
Bellano itinerary: Palazzo Lorla, Giancarlo Vitali Museum, and San Nicolao Contemporary Art