Villa Montalvo

Villa Montalvo is a beautiful estate in the hills above prestigious Saratoga. In 1510 a Spanish writer named Garci Ordonez de Montalvo wrote a fictitious story about a utopian island, ruled by beautiful Black Queen Califia. This was before California was discovered in 1542 and adopted their new version of the name.

The imaginary island of Califia was inhabited by giant Amazon warriors and guarded by griffins. Villa Montalvo is named after this author, and the gates to the estate are guarded by two griffin statues. As a child we visited Villa Montalvo for formal gatherings and in the 60’s the grand lawn area was the go-to hangout where teenagers went to throw Frisbees and socialize. They eventually put an end to that.

The estate is beautiful and today it is best known for its concerts in the Carriage House and at the outdoor Garden Theater. Both are memorable intimate venues with the Carriage House being the smaller of the two. Their show schedule is on their website.

You can still walk around the home, but indoor access and tours are rare. You will see why this is a favorite wedding venue. The Italian Garden and cactus garden below the lawn are open to the public. There is also a trail, less than one mile, to Lookout Point.

Montalvo has a permanent art collection, including art by Andrea Grimsley, but it is difficult for the public to access. There is no charge to stroll the entire property and observe the home from the outside. Please avoid the cabins for the artists in residence. Also nearby is the beautiful Hakone Garden.