The quiet village of Laglio on the western shore of Lake Como is in turmoil while waiting for the arrival tomorrow of Barack Obama who, together with his wife Michelle and his two daughters Malia and Sasha, will be a guest of George Clooney and his wife Amal for a couple of days.
In consideration of the fact that the former presidential family is expected to land at Malpensa airport with a private flight from Provence, where they are on vacation, high-security measures have already been implemented in Laglio to guarantee safety and privacy in the area of Villa Oleandra – this is the name of Clooney’s property. The Municipality has even closed the public car park next to the villa and it will reopen it only after the Obamas’ departure. “It is a strictly private meeting – explained Roberto Pozzi, Mayor of Laglio – I do not deny that for our small town it is a great visibility opportunity. I imagine that many people in the U.S. will go to check where Laglio is looking it on the map.”
Clooney visited for the first time Villa Oleandra, which at the time was owned by the Heinz family, in 2001, when the heirs of the ‘King of ketchup’ helped him after his Harley-Davidson suddenly stopped just outside the gates of the villa during a ride on the mighty Italian Alps. The actor immediately fell in love with the villa, especially because of the breathtaking view on the lake it offers, and the following year he bought it for about $10 million. Since then, the 18th-century villa has become Clooney’s very well-known summer residence.
Cover Ph. Author: Gage Skidmore – Attribution License – Source: Flickr