Lake Como, blockbusters, and luxury villas
Hollywood meets Lake Como
Lake Como’s beauty can be admired from many angles – strolling along its shore, sailing its calm waters by steamboat or motorboat, and looking down at the truly breathtaking view from the surrounding mountains or from one of the exclusive villas for sale on Lake Como listed by Broker Immobiliare Exclusive Real Estate.
Lake Como is one of the most evocative and glamorous locations in the world, a wonderful result of the combination of nature and human intervention, known for its beauty and for having been chosen as filming location by many Italian and international directors who had decided to showcase it in the movies they shot by this lakeshore.
Throughout the years, regardless of movie genre, the greatest artists have capably captured the grace and beauty of this magical location, incorporating it into an unforgettable story by setting their movies in luxurious dwellings and dreamlike luxury villas.
Aside from its elegance, microclimate, and history, Lake Como has certainly been made a true international icon by the movies that were shot by its shore, which has turned these places into coveted and world-renowned locations.
Lake Como has surely won over the hearts of many a celebrity, who have even chosen it as a retreat to take a break from everyone and everything. There are luxury villas and homes for sale on Lake Como, such as the majestic villa bought by George Clooney.
Many actors, as well as George Clooney, have visited and worked on Lake Como, such as Leonardo Di Caprio, Liam Neeson, Antonio Banderas, Laura Linney, Daniel Craig, Robert De Niro, Richard Green, Tom Cruise ed ultimamente Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Al Pacino, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, among others, to name a few. They have contributed to this lake’s world fame magnifying it.
Here are some of the major blockbusters for which some scenes were shot by Lake Como:
THE OTHER MAN
Starring Antonio Banderas, Liam Neeson, Laura Linney and directed by Ruchard Eyre, the movie is about the story of Lisa, a woman who leave her husband for an affair on Lake Como. In the throes of jealousy, her husband leaves for Lake Como to meet the other man, a pivotal scene shot in the lobby of the famous Hotel del Lario.
Lake Como is also the backdrop for this escapade moved by love, passion, and search for freedom: these sentiments are represented in the motorboat scenes and movie posters showing the couple in love.
007 CASINO ROYALE
Starring Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen and directed by Marin Campbell, who chose enchanting Villa del Balbianello for codename 007’s recovery after having been tortured by Le Chiffre. The movie’s final scene was shot in Villa La Gaeta, an imaginative neomedieval castele, in which James Bond track down Mr. White and, after shooting him from the top of the staircase leading to the front door, says the famous phrase “The name’s Bond, James Bond”.
OCEAN’S TWELVE
Directed by Steven Soderbergh and with a stellar cast starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta Jones, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Elliott Gould, Andy García and Casey Affleck, in this movie the “robbers” enjoy the riches stolen from Las Vegas casinos.
Unfortunately, however, they don’t get away with it and find themselves owing a huge debt. They therefore determine to organize a heist in Europe, where they have to deal with their rival Night Fox (Vincent Cassel), deciding visit him in his villa in Italy, specifically in Cernobbio.
What better abode in which to film a thief's villa than Villa Erba? With its elegant yet imposing appearance, it lends itself well to this role.
STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES
This is probably not a secret for Star Wars fans, but not everyone guesses that a Lombard villa was chosen to shoot the scene of Anakin and Padmé’s secret wedding.
This Star Wars instalment is one of the movies shot on Lake Como to have influenced viewers to buy a travel ticket to Italy to spend one day through the eyes of their favorite characters.
The wedding scene was shot in Villa del Balbianello, in the municipality of Termezzina. The lakefront setting is part of Padmé’s native planent Naboo.
After the movie release, there was an exponential increase in couples requesting to be married in the villa, with most requests coming from fans of the saga.
HOUSE OF GUCCI
This new release from 2021 directed by Ridley Scott centers around the Gucci family history in Italy.
This is one of the many movies shot on Lake Como. One of the chosen locations is tiny Ossuccio on Lake Como, a town facing Isola Comacina. Shooting started there in March 2021, with Lady Gaga playing Patrizia Reggiani and Adam Driver playing Maurizio Gucci.
Villa Balbiano is the setting of a lavish reception with the entire Gucci family, with Rodolfo Gucci played by Jeremy Irons, “zio” Aldo played by Al Paicno, and Paolo Gucci played by Jared Leto.
Aside from the villa, the movie was also shot on state road Satale Regina between Argegno and Colonno, as well as in the municipality of Tremezzina.
As well as many American blockbusters, many Italian films were also shot by this wonderful lakeshore, such as “Rocco e i suoi fratelli” by Luchino Visconti, “Che bella giornata” starring Checco Zalone, and of course the TV series “Renzo e Lucia”, based on the Italian classic “I Promessi Sposi” (“The Betrothed”).
The movie guide “Le stelle dei Lago di Como” (“The Stars of Lake Como”) promoted by the Chamber of Commerce has extensive info on exploring luxurious villas, parks, and several settings appearing in movies shot in Como and surrounding areas.
“Le stelle dei Lago di Como” handbook that inlcudes the most shot locations on Lake Como, such as Villa Balbianello in Lenno and Villa d’Este in Cernobbio, as well as less recognizable locations like the small lakes Alserio, Montorfano, Segrino, Pusiano, and Annone, or City Park Teresio Olivelli in Tremezzo.
Broker Immobiliare Exclusive Real Estate lists luxury villas and homes in this fantastic territory surrounding Lake Como’s shores.