Where in Lake Como was Star Wars filmed?

Lake Como’s villas have long been the perfect locations to shoot films, thanks to their scenic environment and magical atmosphere.

In 2002, George Lucas, director of Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, along with writer Jonathan Hales, chose Villa del Balbianello for some scenes in the fifth Star Wars saga.

The Villa is located on a wooded promontory on Lake Como, 38 km from Como city. It can be easily reached on foot or by taxi boat from Lido di Lenno. As one of the most scenic villas on the lake, it has been chosen several times as a movie location.

This elegant, romantic 18th-century mansion and its magnificent gardens have hosted writers, scholars, and travellers, but the villa was originally built as a Franciscan monastery in the 13th century.

In 1787, Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini transformed the religious building into a refined summer residence. Subsequent owners enriched the villa and created the terraced gardens.

The last private owner was the explorer and entrepreneur Guido Monzino, who, upon his death in 1988, donated the villa to the FAI—Fondo Ambiente Italiano (Italy’s National Trust). The house inside is now a museum featuring souvenirs from the last owner’s explorations.

Since then, the villa has become a very popular destination for tourists, as well as a sought-after location for the film industry.

Star Wars film shooting

Attack of the Clones began development in March 2000, some months after the release of The Phantom Menace. By June 2000, Lucas and Hales had completed a script draft, and principal photography took place from June to September of that year. The film crew primarily shot at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney.

Additional footage was filmed in Tunisia, Italy, and Spain. It was one of the first motion pictures shot entirely on a high-definition digital 24-frame system.

In fact, in 2002, the crew came to Italy to shoot some scenes of the famous film.

The villa represents Varykino, the romantic refuge on the planet Naboo, where Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala secretly get married.

Footage locations at Villa del Balbianello and beyond

Stairs from the dock: Anakin and Padmé arrive by boat and climb the stone steps leading to the lower terrace.
Lower terrace and large holm oak: Key moments such as the first kiss and marriage take place here. The large holm oak pruned into a dome is easily recognisable.
Patio: An arched structure overlooking the lake, where Anakin has a nightmare and Padmé comforts him.
Mansion Interiors: Some scenes, such as Padmé showing Anakin her childhood room, were filmed inside the mansion, although some were cut from the final version of the film.

In addition to Villa del Balbianello, the filming also involved:

Tremezzo Public Gardens: Used for some scenes but then cut from the final version of the film.
Clearing near the villa: picnic scene, where Anakin and Padmé share romantic moments.

Filming took place in the first week of September 2000 and lasted four days.

Villa del Balbianello, dream or reality?

Primarily known as the Lake Como Star Wars Villa, Villa Balbianello is one of the most spectacular places on Lake Como, an extraordinary marriage of architecture and nature.

Over the centuries, the structure was expanded several times, thus becoming the home of cardinals and noble families. This villa, with its architecture and lush gardens, seems to come from a dream; perhaps for this reason, it was chosen as the ideal location to shoot a film like Star Wars, where the imaginary planet is reflected in this magical place.

Other film locations on Lake Como

Ocean’s Twelve (2004) – Many scenes from the film were shot in the Lake Como area, including Villa Erba in Cernobbio.
Casino Royale (2006) – A key scene from the James Bond movie was filmed at Villa del Balbianello.
A Month by the Lake (1995) – Set entirely on Lake Como, this romantic film was shot mainly in Menaggio and Varenna.
The Betrothed (1941) – This historical Italian film was shot in various locations around Lake Como.

If you, too, are a film buff or simply curious to discover where some of the most famous films were shot, we invite you to visit Lake Como and stay at Hotel Loveno. We will be happy to welcome you and provide personalised advice on places to visit, share anecdotes related to the film sets, and help you experience an authentic encounter between nature, culture, and the magic of cinema.

We look forward to seeing you for a film-like stay!

– Gaia