Villa La Cassinella Wedding: Rental, Guests and Planning on Lake Como

A Villa La Cassinella wedding is an exclusive-use affair: the whole estate on the Lavedo peninsula near Lenno, reached only by boat, for a small group that usually also sleeps there. The villa changed owners in January 2026 and publishes no wedding rules or prices, so every date is agreed directly with the estate.

We have filmed a couple at Villa La Cassinella, leaving the villa's private dock on a classic wooden boat, and we film on this stretch of the Tremezzina shore often. This guide collects what is public in 2026 about the estate, the rental, guest numbers and logistics, and what to ask before you plan a wedding here.

Where is Villa La Cassinella?

Villa La Cassinella sits on the western shore of Lake Como, on the Dosso di Lavedo peninsula between Lenno and Villa del Balbianello, in the comune of Tremezzina. There is no road to the door. Guests arrive by boat, a ride of about three to five minutes from the Lenno lakefront, and step off at the villa's own dock. Milan Malpensa and Linate are roughly one to one and a half hours away by car, plus the boat transfer.

A short history of the villa

The estate grew from an earlier house called Villa Rosa. In 1926 an American heiress, Fanny Hart, had the engineer Carlo Mantegazza rebuild it, and the Mantegazza family later kept it and renamed it La Cassinella. Giacomo Mantegazza redid the interiors from 1965. In 2004 the villa was sold for about €17.5 million, and for years it was rented by the week as one of the most expensive holiday houses on the lake. The long-running story that Richard Branson owns it has been denied.

In January 2026 local press reported a new sale, at a price believed to be above €90 million, to a buyer from the luxury hospitality world who has not been named. COMO LAKE Today called it a record for the lake. Since then the villa has a new website and new terms, and planners' notes written before 2026 may no longer apply.

What does the estate include?

According to the official Villa La Cassinella site, the estate covers about 30,000 square metres of gardens and has three buildings:

• The Main Villa, with the principal bedrooms and the reception rooms.
• A Guest House for family or the wedding party.
• A Pool House with a cinema and a gym, next to a heated infinity pool.

In total there are 7 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms for up to 14 guests, a tennis court, a full staff and boat services. Older agency listings mention 8 or 9 bedrooms and up to 17 or 18 guests, from the time when another building was counted. The official figures are the ones to plan with.

How does renting Villa La Cassinella work?

The villa is rented for exclusive use only, with staff, and by enquiry. The official site does not publish prices. Third-party listings in 2026 quote from €118,800 a week for up to 8 guests, rising with the number of guests, with a minimum of 7 nights in June, July and August and shorter minimum stays in spring and autumn. Food and drink and a security deposit come on top. Treat these figures as a guide only and confirm them with the villa for your dates.

For a wedding, the rental is usually the base cost. Catering, flowers, music, boats for the guests who stay elsewhere and the planner are all added to it.

Can you get married at Villa La Cassinella?

Yes, as a private occasion, but on terms agreed with the villa. The official site offers "private occasions" for intimate groups and gives no wedding rules, guest limits or curfew. Before the 2026 sale, planners described symbolic ceremonies on the lawn or the loggia, groups of about 15 to 50 guests and music ending at midnight. Ask the villa which of these still apply.

A legal ceremony does not happen at the villa. Most couples marry legally at home or at a town hall on the lake, then hold a symbolic ceremony at the villa. Our guide on how to get married in Italy explains the paperwork.

Getting guests and suppliers there

Everything at La Cassinella arrives by water: guests, the caterer, the florist, the band and the film crew. This is what makes the villa so private, and it is also what shapes the plan.

• Guests staying elsewhere need a boat shuttle from Lenno or a nearby hotel dock, timed for arrival and for the end of the night.
• Suppliers need loading time at the dock, which adds hours to setup and to the cost.
• Weather matters more than at a villa you can drive to. Agree a wind and rain plan for the boats.

With a small group the boat ride becomes part of the day: a couple leaving the dock on a wooden boat after the ceremony is one of the strongest scenes we film on this shore.

How Villa La Cassinella looks on film

The villa is all water and garden. The dock and the boathouse give the classic Lake Como arrival and departure, the terraced lawns and cypresses frame the ceremony, and the lake stays in the background of almost every shot. For a small wedding we film it as a documentary, quietly, with one or two filmmakers, and use the boat transfers for portraits so the couple is not taken away from their guests for long.

Drone flights over the estate need the owner's permission as well as the usual Italian rules, so we agree them with the villa in advance.

Similar villas nearby

If La Cassinella is not available, or you need more guests, these venues on the same shore are worth comparing:

• Villa del Balbianello, the FAI villa at the tip of the same peninsula.
• Villa Balbiano, a private estate for exclusive-use weddings in Ossuccio.
• Villa Sola Cabiati, a palace in Tremezzo rented with the Grand Hotel Tremezzo.
• Grand Hotel Tremezzo, for larger weddings with rooms for everyone.

Our full list of Lake Como wedding venues compares capacity, access and rules.

FAQ

How many guests can attend a wedding at Villa La Cassinella?

The villa sleeps up to 14 guests. Before 2026, planners reported events for about 15 to 50 people. The current limit is set by the villa for each event, so ask when you enquire.

Can you have a legal ceremony at Villa La Cassinella?

No. Plan a legal ceremony at home or at a town hall on Lake Como, and a symbolic ceremony at the villa.

How do you get to Villa La Cassinella?

Only by boat, about three to five minutes from the Lenno lakefront, to the villa's private dock.

How much does it cost to rent Villa La Cassinella?

The villa publishes no prices. Third-party listings in 2026 start at about €118,800 a week for up to 8 guests, with a 7-night minimum in summer.

Who owns Villa La Cassinella?

It was sold in January 2026 to a buyer who has not been named. It is not owned by Richard Branson.

Is Villa La Cassinella a good choice for a micro wedding?

Yes. It suits a small group that stays together for several days. Our guide to a micro wedding on Lake Como covers how to plan one.

Planning a wedding at Villa La Cassinella?

Tell us your date and we will let you know if we are free and how we would film your day at the villa. Write to us here.