Image: Villa Carlotta
Villa Carlotta in Tremezzina, on Lake Como, will present ‘Dynasties of Europe on Lake Como: The Princess of the Netherlands and the Dukes of Saxe-Meiningen’ from 18 September to 8 December 2026. Curated by Maria Angela Previtera and Elena Lissoni, the exhibition will examine the villa’s connections with Charlotte of Prussia and the court of Saxe-Meiningen.
The exhibition is promoted by the Ente Villa Carlotta and forms the central exhibition project in celebrations marking the bicentenary of the birth of Duke Georg II of Saxe-Meiningen, born in 1826. Georg II was the consort of Princess Charlotte and the last owner of Villa Carlotta before the creation of the Ente Villa Carlotta.
According to the institution, the show will revisit a significant period in the history of the residence, when it entered the orbit of major European dynasties between the mid-19th century and the early 20th century. The principal figures in this story are identified as Marianna of Orange-Nassau, her daughter Charlotte of Prussia and Georg II of Saxe-Meiningen.
The exhibition will bring together paintings, sculptures and historical documents from the Museum of Villa Carlotta, including works and records associated with Georg II’s era. The presentation will also include newly acquired materials that recently entered the collections through donations from descendants of the family, alongside loans from private collections, foundations, museums and other institutions.
Additional material listed by Villa Carlotta includes furnishings, archival documents, photographs, maps and objects. Together, these holdings will address the cultural life and international relationships surrounding the villa during the period of its aristocratic ownership, while also considering its development as an aristocratic residence set within a botanical garden.
Villa Carlotta’s wider programme will include guided visits connected with the exhibition. On 26 September at 11am, a 90-minute Italian-language tour will lead visitors through the villa and garden, focusing on the artistic and botanical collections, artworks and historical documents linked to Marianna, Charlotte and Georg. The tour is included with admission, requires booking and will take place as part of the Weekend of the Rete dell’800 Lombardo and the bicentenary programme. Further thematic visits are scheduled for 7 November, 21 November and 8 December, the final day of the exhibition.
