Villa Carlotta, Como

The hillside gardens of Villa Carlotta rise on the western shore of Lake Como, which is known as the Tremezzina Riviera due to its mild year-round climate. Even when the subalpine peaks that serve as the gardens' backdrop are covered in snow, the foliage here stays green all winter long.

Villa Carlotta dazzles with masses of blooms that change with the seasons, making it more vibrant than most traditional Italian gardens, which depend more on their intricate formal layout and manicured hedges. The gardens are surrounded by woodlands that open to reveal magnificent lake and mountain views as they follow the hillside's natural slopes and curves. Visit in May to see the 400 camellias and 40-foot-tall banks of rhododendrons in bloom, or throughout the summer to see the 200 roses and the succession of brilliant annuals. On a hot summer day, the forest gardens are a refreshing retreat.