It includes a botanical garden, a museum, and a convention center, contains precious architecture, period furniture, works of art and a beautiful park that extends to Fiumelatte (river) with paths overlooking the lake, tall cypresses and many species of exotic plants.

[1] The convent grew in importance and wealth, purchasing many properties, especially around Lierna, but eventually declined to only six mothers, and was closed by papal bull in 1567.

[citation needed] Walter Kees of Leipzig bought the villa in the 1890s, and between 1897 and 1909 carried out modifications which give its current Eclectic style.

Some of the architects involved include Emilio Alemagna, Achille Majnoni, and Enrico Citterio, the construction itself was overseen by G. Bertarini of Varenna.

[4] Restoration occurred during the second half of the nineteenth century by Carolina Maumary, sister-in-law of the then prime minister of the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont Massimo D'Azeglio.