My villa on Lake Como (and a few boaty bits)

[jfm]

I guess you mean Villa La Gaeta, well, they must have been on a tight budget...

Yup, that's the one in James Bond/Casino Royale for sure. I didn't know it was a low-budget choice and actually now an apartment block - that's funny. Just from your pictures it is clear Balbianello is 100x better

In fact, on second thought, I think it's fair to say that Fiorentina is nowhere near both Malaparte and Balbianello, in terms of waterfront location - regardless of how nicer the villa itself might be.

Teehee! I disagree bigtime. Each to their own of course, but in my book the perfect waterfront house is the one right down by the water, so I can see the boat tied up and almost touch the water. Not the one up on a cliff 100m above the water (even if it has a longer view of course). For me it is all about closeness to the water not the view. Hence Malaparte does absolutely nothing for me, because it is so far from the sea

Balbiano OTOH is a beautiful waerfront house but it's on a lake not the sea, and just for that reason cannot be top of the league

Incidentally though Fiorentina is down on the water and even has its own harbour and drive-in RIB garage*, it happens to have stunning views as well.

Yes Fiorentina's main façade does point north. I have no idea what the thinking was. Of course in N hemisphere any premier house usually has its front facing North and its rear gardens and terraces facing south, so on that score Fiorentina is correct. The site is so large that there is plenty of space for gardens and terraces to the south, but they have chosen not to put much there other than a bunch of screening trees - that could be easily reversed of course. But I do get your overall point here. Not something to lose much sleep about anyhow

*Just on the subject of houses with private harbours, Fiorentina's harbour is nowhere near as impressive as the harbour at its near neighbour Villa St Jean just south of St JeanCap Ferrat marina. You can drive and park a 100 foot boat in there and step onto your own terrace. And the beige stone house right on the water front (dunno name) on east side of Villefranche, beneath Eurphrasis, similarly has a large private harbour. But the houses themselves aren't as special as Fiorentina or Balbianello

 

[MapisM]

For me it is all about closeness to the water not the view. Hence Malaparte does absolutely nothing for me, because it is so far from the sea
Balbiano OTOH is a beautiful waerfront house but it's on a lake not the sea

Yep, Casa Malaparte is not as close to the water as La Fiorentina, but that's not incidental.
The latter is in fact well sheltered, and I would think that even the strongest NE wind (which is the more exposed direction, IIRC) can't build up big waves, due to the limited fetch.
Otoh, the first is fully exposed to the open sea, and with a proper sirocco blow you can have 6+ meters waves smashing the rock right under the house, offering a priceless view.
And there's a stair for reaching the sea, anyway.
But I agree, that's definitely an "each to their own" matter. Casa Malaparte is surely more meant for sea lovers, rather than boat lovers.
And for those who love both, obviously it's very convenient to have a private and sheltered harbour - as there is in Balbianello, btw.

Talking of which, as much as I love Lake Como, actually I also would choose the sea, if I had to pick only one alternative.
In fact, I did say previously that ...I'd prefer to have a house like that with salt (rather than fresh) water around it....
But I saw it as a somewhat different point vs. the architectural "waterfront location" debate.

Btw, funny that you called it "Balbiano".
You might be aware that the "ello" suffix in IT is used as a term of endearment.
In fact, there is also a Villa Balbiano, built in the 16th century, while Balbianello was "only" built in the 18th century.
The first is in a small village declared World Heritage Site from UNESCO, not far from the latter.
During the 18th century, Balbiano was owned by a Cardinal, who commissioned also the construction of the Balbianello, which he named after the "main" villa.
As I was told, a few years ago Balbiano was bought by a Russian.... Here's a pic:

 

[Fantasie 19]

Yup, that's the one in James Bond/Casino Royale for sure. I didn't know it was a low-budget choice and actually now an apartment block - that's funny. Just from your pictures it is clear Balbianello is 100x better

http://www.jamesbondlifestyle.com/product/villa-del-balbianello-lenno-como-italy

 

[MapisM]

http://www.jamesbondlifestyle.com/product/villa-del-balbianello-lenno-como-italy

Doh! It seems that tcm was correct, after all.

But you made me curious, and I googled a bit further.
And I discovered that they mixed the sacred with the profane a bit, in that movie...:
http://www.jamesbondlifestyle.com/product/villa-la-gaeta-san-siro-lake-como-italy

Some bits are also available on youtube btw - see below for La Gaeta and Balbianello respectively.
In the second video, it's easy to see some of the spots in my previous pics...

 

[Fantasie 19]

Push comes to shove though, what a beautiful place... !

 

[EAZ 2012]

Lovely Villa!!!!!

 

[jfm]

Doh! It seems that tcm was correct, after all.

Point of order! We were expressly talking about the scene near the end (post #2)

Very nice thread btw MapisM. Especially viewed from rainy Antibes!

 

[MapisM]

Hehe, yeah, I stand corrected.
Actually, in hindsight, I also made a lakesailor of some sort I guess, 'cause actually others before tcm suggested the same...

Anyway, since it seems that the villas topic is (understandably) appreciated, I'll throw in some pics of another FAI property which I visited recently.
Not on the lake, and not a comparably fascinating location, but also well worth mentioning... More to follow asap.

As an aside, yup, I'm aware that pant weather was predicted for this weekend.
But I'll tell you a secret: if you can stay a bit longer, I made a phone call and booked some glorious weather from tuesday onward.
A very kind forumite invited me to join him for a cruise on the Ligurian Sea, and I couldn't disappoint him with bad weather in Italy, could I?

 

[Pinnacle]

Point of order! We were expressly talking about the scene near the end (post #2)

Very nice thread btw MapisM. Especially viewed from rainy Antibes!

J

It's been sunny in Berthons today!