Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Bellosguardo Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Bellosguardo

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Cara A.

    I recently took a tour of Bellosguardo, and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations in every way. When I first saw the $100 price tag per person, I was a bit surprised. However, the intimate tour by a knowledgeable and friendly docent amongst the immaculately maintained grounds made it more than worthwhile. It's easy to think that because the property once belonged to a wealthy individual, it would be in top condition. However, it's evident that the foundation is struggling with limited resources to be able to maintain, let alone improve, this extraordinary estate. From basic amenities like toilets to an operational elevator, there's a lot of work to be done, and I finally understood why they need small groups instead of allowing this place to be open to the public like a public dog park, as some in the city are demanding. There's also an issue with parking on or near the property. They certainly have challenges ahead to be able to make this fully operational and available for mass public tours. In the meantime, taking an intimate, small tour was so special and charming. Despite their enormous lack of funding and operational challenges, the experience was unforgettable. Photography is restricted inside, but, trust me, the visuals will stay with you. It's totally my vibe in every way: excess opulence inspired by the Belle Epoch. The art collection is striking, and Huguette Clark was a very talented artist. I am so glad to have experienced the human side of her, which can be experienced through her art, and love for music. This isn't just a visit; it's like stepping back in time. Everything is original! I can't think of any other place quite like Bellosguardo. It's a beautiful and inspiring experience that justifies every dollar spent. If you're looking for a unique, intimate, and thought-provoking tour, don't miss this one. You won't regret the hefty entrance fee.

    See all

    2 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Beautiful tour of an estate with stunning views and history of the property and Santa Barbara.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Daniel C.
    11
    125
    67

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John P.
    9
    49
    19

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Dan S.
    1
    58
    1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    What a beautiful place. So much history there! Looking forward to being able to tour the second floor and carriage house.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    Ask the Community - Bellosguardo

    Review Highlights - Bellosguardo

    The foundation keeps the tours pretty small and you have to email ahead to ask for a schedule.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Casa del Herrero - Herb Garden Entry

    Casa del Herrero

    4.6(29 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    Yikes, this is an expensive tour but it is a rarity to see a period house with most of the original…read moreoccupants furnishings etc. The tours are docent led and very informative. If you like these types of tours, this one is quite worth it.

    I came here for an event today so really my review is tailored more towards the events that Casa is…read moreholding but also to acknowledge the fabulous grounds and building though I admit I don't have full context for the history or background. I would definitely come back here to learn about the house and to take the guided tour. This wasn't the purpose for me coming today but the gentleman who works here noted that it's a great tour and I know friends who have enjoyed learning about the family and the history of the house, getting a deeper dive of information. I came here with some friends for their first hosted event Sound Bath. A wellness day if you will. From start to finish everything was very organized and thoughtful. The staff hosting the event and the spiritual wellness guide and sound healer was wonderful. Everyone was nice and you felt welcomed. Not pretentious and just very positive and good vibes. We had a nice group and everyone was respectful and on time for the sound bath so it went off without issue. It was a relaxing experience and the grounds were very nice to hold this outdoor event. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, we found an area with shade, very nice. Very faint sounds of cars in the distance here and there which wasn't ideal but out of their control and once things settled in you really couldn't hear much external noise. After the relaxing sound bath we were offered tea and light pastry snacks. I opted for a water and began exploring the grounds instead of partaking in the refreshments. The grounds are lush and lovely, very zen. Loved the beautiful trees and walkways with small fountains and running water. It was green and pretty all around from the recent rains. Definitely a great location for events and to learn a little SB history. I will definitely do my research and come back again soon.

    Photos
    Casa del Herrero - I'm very proud of this color match

    I'm very proud of this color match

    Casa del Herrero
    Casa del Herrero - Crush It Wine educators, Allie and Julie.

    See all

    Crush It Wine educators, Allie and Julie.

    Santa Barbara Trolley - The Court House

    Santa Barbara Trolley

    4.2(119 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    Santa Barbara was a bucket list stop for my girlfriend, and we booked the 2:00 p.m. trolley tour…read morehoping for a well guided introduction to the city's history and landmarks. Unfortunately, it ended up being one of the more disappointing parts of the trip. The seating is tightly packed. I understand maximizing capacity, but at 6'6" it was not comfortable. We moved to the front right side where there is a sideways bench behind the driver, which offered more legroom. That felt like a smart move until we realized most of the sights being pointed out were on the left side of the trolley. It felt like about 80 percent of the tour was oriented that direction, which meant we were constantly twisting around and still missing details. If you book this tour, sit on the left side. The narration also felt disorganized. The driver mentioned he was reading the traffic flow incorrectly and ended up doing much of the route "backwards." Because of that, he would introduce a historical figure or landmark, then later circle back and partially repeat the same information when reaching his usual talking point. There was noticeable repetition and filler instead of a smooth, cohesive storyline. Midway through the tour, there is a stop at Mission Santa Barbara for about 15 minutes. While it is nice to get off and stretch your legs, 15 minutes is nowhere near enough time to meaningfully experience the mission. You can walk through the courtyard and take a few photos, but that is about it. The mission deserves more time than a quick pass through. In practice, the stop felt more like a checkbox than a real opportunity to explore. Another frustration was departure time. The 2:00 p.m. tour did not leave at 2:00. The driver waited past the scheduled time to see if additional passengers would join. When you are visiting from out of town and carefully stacking your schedule, those extra 10 to 15 minutes matter. Overall, for about $30 per person, I expected a more polished and better organized experience. We both left disappointed. If you want a meaningful introduction to Santa Barbara, you may be better off exploring key spots on your own at your own pace.

    This was a decent ride around a small part of the city. My driver was Joe. He seemed knowledgeable…read moreabout the history and landmarks. We stopped at a church to take pics and had sufficient time to snap other photos along the tour. This was especially perfect for a warm, sunny day.

    Photos
    Santa Barbara Trolley - Santa Barbara

    Santa Barbara

    Santa Barbara Trolley - Gorgeous shoreline

    Gorgeous shoreline

    Santa Barbara Trolley - Fig Tree

    See all

    Fig Tree

    Totally Cali Tours

    Totally Cali Tours

    5.0(20 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    Had a quick weekend trip with some girlfriends and decided on the wine & chocolate tasting tour. It…read morewas the perfect weather, Melissa was very knowledgeable about the history of Santa Barbara, provided lots of recommendations. Very pleased with our tour!

    Melissa was a fantastic tour guide who went above and beyond to make sure me and my boyfriend had…read morethe most amazing weekend in Santa Barbara - so much that we are seriously considering moving out there one day! She took us to 2 wine tasting spots - Riverbench & Cebada Wine Tasting - and 1 beer tasting spot - Night Lizard. Each wine tasting gave us 4 to 5 wines to taste and the brewery gave us a flight with 4 glasses! We started our tour at the train station, walked all throughout State Street, and finished our tour in the Santa Barbara Courthouse. Melissa carried so much historical facts and knowledge about the city, from the architectural design, past earthquake effects and the rebuilding process, the city's Old Hollywood vibes, significance of museums and historical landmarks, and all the delicious food spots to visit! She was so kind as to give us recommendations on places to visit as we made our own personal stop to Solvang the next following day. We couldn't have asked for a better tour and tour guide! We love the city of Santa Barbara and we enjoyed learning its history and greatly admired how the city has successfully preserved its culture, architectural traditions & vibrant patterned designs! We will see you soon!

    Photos
    Totally Cali Tours
    Totally Cali Tours
    Totally Cali Tours - H

    See all

    H

    Santa Barbara Walking Tours - Step beyond the Ordinary

    Santa Barbara Walking Tours

    4.5(2 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    This was hands down one of the best tours I've ever had of any city. My father and I took a private…read morewalking tour of Santa Barbara with Ellen, owner of Santa Barbara Walking Tours. Originally slated for 90 minutes, the tour lasted a full two hours. What's more, Ellen was perfectly willing to keep on going. We only stopped because my father and I were worn out and hungry, our brains full while our stomachs were empty. Ellen showed us no shortage of historical and cultural and artistic sites while narrating a bevy of fascinating back stories, from a park that was originally the site of a hotel, to a church that had been rebuilt and moved, to a gorgeous old historic movie theater with an auditorium built to simulate the inside of a mission, to Charlie Chaplin's sometime residence. And so much more. And did you know Santa Barbara had literally no trees at all when the Spanish missionaries first arrived? Ellen also offers customized tours tailored to particular interests (e.g. the Sue Grafton murder mystery tour). Next time you're in Santa Barbara, be sure to reach out to Ellen through her website (http://www.santabarbarawalkingtours.com) to arrange a walking tour of this awesome and beautiful city.

    Cute and funky tours of Santa Barbara... a bit of art and history (but keep in mind this isn't an…read moreancient European city by any means ;). I spent a couple decades in SB growing up yet saw and learned many new things I had no clue about which was cool. Quirky, funny and informative guide.

    Santa Barbara Historical Museum - The permanent Story of Santa Barbara exhibit

    Santa Barbara Historical Museum

    4.4(38 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    My partner and I were looking for something to do on a lazy Saturday in town. We have already…read moreexplored much of what the Central Coast has to offer so we decided to revisit an attraction. The Santa Barbara Historical Museum came to mind after noticing their Project Fiesta exhibit was going on. It also just so happens that Yelp's "Travel Like A Local" campaign is going on simultaneously, so the timing was impeccable. This museum is a hidden gem somewhat off the beaten path. It is a few blocks from downtown State Street and two from the historic Presidio. Most tourists unfortunately miss it. Yet, this beautiful adobe building with a humongous boat anchor in front is worth visiting. Heck, there's no reason to not enter since it's completely free to the public (donations appreciated)! Upon entering, to the left is a gift shop with many local books and souvenirs. Yet it's easy to be distracted by the gorgeous central courtyard with a water fountain as its focal point. This is a popular venue for weddings, dances and other celebrations. Be sure to get a photo of an original Camino Real Bell, the marker used to connect the California Missions. There is also the Glenhill Library here. Many don't know that if you sneak out the back gate, you can step back into time with dirt ground, lush fruit trees, and La Casa Covarrubias. The museum also features a permanent exhibit called The Story of Santa Barbara. It's the perfect introduction to the Central Coast's long history of the native Chumash people, the influence of Mexico and the Spanish, the 1925 Earthquake and more. Upon my most recent visit was an unexpected discovery, an exhibit on Clarence Mattei: Portrait of a Community. I knew of the historic Mattei's Tavern, Inn and Stagecoach Stop after it was recently renovated and became part of a new luxury Auberge Resort in Los Olivos. Little did I know that he became a well-known artist. His first free-sketch was of Leutze's 1851 painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware at only 15 years of age! Prominent guests of the Tavern recognized his skill and sponsored his studies in San Francisco and New York. To this day you can see his art on the walls of the Tavern, but also here. Another current temporary exhibit is of Old Spanish Days/Fiesta, Santa Barbara's pride and joy. 2023 is its 99th anniversary! I had no idea that Fiesta was originally started to celebrate the opening of the Lobero Theatre. To this day, it remains the oldest running theater in California. The photos of almost a century caught by camera and shared at this exhibit are spectacular. All in all, whether it's your first visit to Santa Barbara or you're a life-long native, a visit to this museum is a must!

    I've likely been to Santa Barbara 100 times over the last 30 years. Never knew that this charming…read moregem of a museum existed until yesterday when thumbing through the Passport 2 History book. We already knew we'd be visiting The Presidio of Santa Barbara and Casa De La Guerra, but didn't realize that the Historical Museum was close by, and well worth seeing. So glad I dug deeper into the list of venues! We arrived around 3:45 PM. The sunlight hitting the exterior of the building was getting to that golden-glow stage of the day. The whole building seemed to be quietly basking in the light. Native plantings, wildflowers and aloes are featured in their gardens. While not profusive, they still highlight and soften the grounds. Once inside, we paid in the gift shop, then headed in to see the exhibits. The first feature was a colorful multi-media presentation celebrating Santa Barbara's long-running Fiesta. The video on the main screen in the center of the room was bizarre in it's Hollywood Anglo take on the Spanish / Mexican heritage of the event. (Before the days of political correctness and cultural sensitivity.) Stars of the Golden Age of Tinseltown (like Ida Lupino and Robert Taylor) were present for Fiesta festivities back in the day. Behind that gallery lay a watercolor collection of all 21 California Missions by artist Edwin Deakin. The display was subtle, and beautifully lit. To the left is a large wing dedicated to what I assume is the museum's permanent collection. I was really impressed with their presentation of so many varied objects. They've embraced the concept of layering their displays, creating dimensional spaces where there's texture and depth from ceiling to floor. They even have their own hall of mirrors effect, with the reflections showing off more of the historic pieces. Victorian-era gowns mix with furnishings and accessories, accented with artworks of many kinds. The eye doesn't know where to look first. So many beautiful things to see! The lighting is dramatic, which draws you in to the next space and the next. Placards describe the displayed items, while others give historical tales of local residents who provided extraordinary roles to the development of the Santa Barbara we see today. All I can say is, "Well done!" Back though the gift shop, another wing lies. I wouldn't have realized it, except Dear Hubby pointed me that way. The museum counts itself lucky to have many works by Western artist, Edward Borein. During his career he was a working cowboy in various parts of the American West, and even internationally. He then became a renowned artist, drawing and painting scenes from the life he lived on the frontier. He hobnobbed with luminaries like Will Rogers and Walt Disney. Spending the last third of his life living an working in Santa Barbara during his productive artist period, they consider him a native son. While the facility isn't very large in comparison to bigger city venues, it's a perfect place to sample several hundred years of Santa Barbara history, plus some very special artwork. We spent a little over an hour there, and could have lingered longer. I learned a bit about Miss Pearl Chase. Turns out that after returning to Santa Barbara from a trip out of the area, she alit from the train and was dismayed to see her town "dusty, drab, with untended buildings, and scarcely any landscaping". She took it upon herself to nudge the city officials to adopt the Spanish Mission-style architecture as a unifying theme. She also advocated for public gardens and general beautification of the town with a botanical flair. She's credited with urging the lush look of the city we enjoy today, taking advantage of it's Mediterranean-like climate to full, colorful advantage. Highly recommend this charming museum!

    Photos
    Santa Barbara Historical Museum - The museum store

    The museum store

    Santa Barbara Historical Museum - Hand-Drawn Portraits by Mattei

    Hand-Drawn Portraits by Mattei

    Santa Barbara Historical Museum - Santa Barbara Historical Museum exterior with large anchor

    See all

    Santa Barbara Historical Museum exterior with large anchor

    Bellosguardo - landmarks - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...