Villa del Balbianello in the Movies
Skip the planningGarden slots and guided-visit places both run on timed entry - on summer weekends they are gone days ahead. Lock yours in now, cancel free if plans change.
Check availabilityThe Star Wars wedding on the loggia
The Naboo lake-retreat scenes in Attack of the Clones were filmed here, and the secret wedding of Anakin and Padmé was staged on the loggia terrace - the one with the two arches and the candelabra-pruned plane trees. That terrace is on the garden circuit, so the €15 park ticket puts you on the exact spot; no guided tour required. Sarah from the US wrote that the entry ticket “made my Star Wars dreams come true”, which is the review I hear out loud on the terrace most weeks of the season.
Casino Royale
Bond’s final convalescence scenes in Casino Royale (2006) were shot at the villa. Between the two franchises, this small house on the Lavedo peninsula has had more screen time than most of Lake Como put together.
A Month by the Lake
A Month by the Lake (1995) filmed here before either of them, which is worth knowing if you want the location without the costume references.
Seeing it the way the cameras did
The villa appears from the water on the boat routes, and one product is built around exactly that view: the shared speedboat from Como, 3–4 hours, which passes the villa from the water with no landing and no entry, adds a free stop in Bellagio, Nesso and the Orrido di Nesso waterfalls, and pours a prosecco aperitif on the way. It sells from €126, is the highest-rated of the six products at 4.7, and is not for pregnant women or people with mobility impairments. Kamil from Poland called skipper Giovanna Lucini super professional. If you want to land as well, the other options are on the boat tours page - and whether any of this is worth your money is answered honestly on the verdict page.
For photographs of the loggia without other people’s heads in them, take the first garden slot of the day. The film angle from the water needs a boat; the wedding terrace itself needs only the €15 ticket.
Frequently asked questions
Was Star Wars really filmed at Villa del Balbianello?
Yes. Star Wars Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) shot the Naboo lake-retreat scenes here, including Anakin and Padmé’s secret wedding on the loggia terrace. The terrace is on the garden circuit, covered by the €15 park ticket.
Which James Bond film used the villa?
Casino Royale (2006) - Bond’s final convalescence scenes. A Month by the Lake (1995) filmed at the villa earlier than either franchise.
Can I see the wedding terrace without going inside?
Yes. The loggia terrace is part of the garden visit, so any garden ticket covers it. Only the rooms behind it need the guided tour - the split is on the garden vs villa page.
Is there a boat tour that shows the film view?
The speedboat from Como passes the villa from the water - the angle the cameras used - with no landing and no entry, plus stops at Bellagio and the Nesso waterfalls. It is the highest-rated of the six products.