The grounds, the gondola pier and pagoda are so much like Italy it's like being there! I always go in the summer so it can be really warm but the interior of the mansion has air conditioning. We loved the gift shop/cafe too!

I really want to support places like this but I have to say that this house is a hodgepodge of artifacts that seldom belong together. The overall effect is a very pretentious house where a wealthy man tried desperately to achieve some sort of royalty status. Most often the artifacts he purchased were obviously meant to be in much larger rooms so they seem cramped here. Things are thrown together that don't seem to belong together. I recently visited the Borromeo Estate in the middle of Lake Maggiorre in Italy. This house feels like a poorly done homage to that magnificent estate.

The gardens are amazingly lush and beautiful. The house is nice but overshadowed by the grounds. Lots of walking required!

The tour was very informative and the views from the inner courtyard were amazing. A must-see tucked away in Mimi.