We are offering small docent-led tours. Tickets are released via email every few months and usually sell out quickly. Sign up to be added to our list.
Watch an interview with LA Times Travel writer Christopher Reynolds on his visit to Bellosguardo.
We are local but so enjoyed the tour and look forward to supporting all you're doing. Judy October 23, 2024
Wonderful tour. Great guides and seeing home was a highlight of our trip to Santa Barbara. So happy the estate is available for tours. Kim October 23, 2024
Better than expectations. I was thrilled with the docents and their knowledge of the art work and rooms. It was awesome. After reading Empty Mansions, I was intrigued. I peered over the cemetery fence to see what I could see, but I needed a ladder. Curiosity got the best of me so I had to have a tour. WOW, it was fabulous. Recommend it to everyone. 5+ stars or more. Elizabeth October 20, 2024
Fascinating! BEAUTIFUL! And such a mystery uncovered! The Docents, Margaret & Loretta, were wonderful in their informative delivery! I live in Santa Barbara and have had intrigue regarding this home for years! Thank you for the tour & opportunity! Joanne October 20, 2024
Very informative tour of an architectural masterpiece. Christine October 19, 2024
The docent and tour guides, Eugene and John, were acknowledged and enthusiastic. I want to return for another visit. Ann October 18, 2024
The estate is truly beautiful and I think it's wonderful that you are doing small group tours. The history is fascinating and I’ve been following the news about Bellosguardo for some time. The guides are very interesting and informative and welcoming. Barbara October 17, 2024
Great docents: Jeffrey and Cynthia. A wonderful experience! Lynne October 17, 2024
What a great tour. Great reception at the entrance, great tour guides. Very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the story, the house, and the and the mysteries to yet be explained. DJ October 16, 2024
A wonderful time spent and so interesting! Our docents were so knowledgeable and friendly. We are glad we came. Drove up from Palm Springs for a couple of days just for this. Susan October 16, 2024
Fascinating story told by some knowledgeable docents. Jennifer October 14, 2024
It was such an enjoyable visit and tour, we can't wait to come again! Marie October 13, 2024
Truly wonderful and amazing. We traveled from Saint Louis, Missouri just for your tour. We will come back. The two guides, truly fantastic. Loved them. I can't thank you enough today's experience. Thomas October 13, 2024
Please, please, PLEASE do more events like this. What a treat and a great way to introduce the community to Bellosguardo, the crown jewel of Santa Barbara! DeAnne October 10, 2024
We really enjoyed our visit. Gail and Sue did a great job! Rose-Marie October 7, 2024
We had a wonderful time touring Bellosguardo. Ryan and Eugene were top-notch docents. We can't wait to see more or even attend an event on the grounds. I have to say that the tour size was also perfect. Zenaida October 7, 2024
Ryan & Eugene were wonderful hosts—knowledgeable, funny and didn't burden you with rules, but spoke about them professionally and expected you to follow them. We will be back for additional tours as they come up and will attend events as we can. We absolutely loved the tour and highly recommend Ryan & Eugene. Angie October 6, 2024
Superbly knowledgeable docents led us on an intimate tour, giving us a bright window into this extraordinary piece of history. Steve October 5, 2024
Really enjoyed the tour and would recommend it to anyone interested in families and their homes of the 20th century. Interesting history and beautiful gardens. Nancy October 4, 2024
We enjoyed our visit tremendously. Our docents, Jane and Nancy, were delightful. We had read Empty Mansions and were so excited to be able to get tickets for the tour. We will definitely recommend the estate to our friends. Don October 3, 2024
My husband and I came from Seattle particularly to see Bellosguardo and the Lotusland. This was our trip goal. Our tour in Bellosguardo was above and beyond. David was very helpful and knowledgeable about the Estate and the family who lived there. I admire that there are still people who care about national Heritage. I definitely would recommend to my friends to visit Santa Barbara and Bellosguardo. We enjoyed every moment being in Bellosguardo. Elvira October 3, 2024
"Our tour in Bellosguardo was above and beyond. David was very helpful and knowledgeable about the estate and the family who lived there. I admire that there are still people who care about national heritage. I definitely would recommend to my friends to visit Santa Barbara and Bellosguardo. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this great opportunity. We enjoyed every moment being in Bellosguardo. Elvira October 3, 2024
We really enjoyed our tour this morning of the Bellosguardo Estate. It was special to see this gem of history right here in our community! Thank you to our amazing tour guides who had so much knowledge to share. Truly a wonderful morning! Diana October 2, 2024
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Bellosguardo. What a wonderful experience. The guides were fantastic. Will return. Regine October 2, 2024
A very enjoyable and informative visit! Harrell October 2, 2024
October 2, 2024
Came up from Los Angeles to do the tour of Bellosguardo and it was great! Really enjoyed seeing all the amazing views from the house and then the intricate architecture inside the house. Our tour guides were very knowledgeable and gave us good information about the history of the home and the people that live there. Teri September 29, 2024
Great, interesting tour with very knowledgeable docents. Very glad to be able to finally see this historic home in person and learn much more about the property, its history and owners. Keep up the good work. Matt September 29, 2024
A fabulous tour! David & Leslie were delightful docents. Ron September 28, 2024
Very interesting tour. Knowledgeable docents. Would definitely recommend! Kim September 27, 2024
"We all truly enjoyed every minute. I really do not think that even 10% of Santa Barbara County residents have any idea of the unique and stunning beauty found in Bellosguardo's jewel box interior, architectural heritage and gardens. It was an amazing journey into the family's rare lives—it is unlike any museum/home that I have ever entered and our tour guides showered us in a wonderful mixture of the lives lived and the beauty collected, created and inspired. It is a gem that must be protected and funded so the restoration can continue. Kristi September 27, 2024
"I had the most amazing time touring Bellosguardo. It is a beautiful property with a fascinating history and our docents were so friendly, knowledgeable and engaging! The time flew...I hated for the tour to end. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Mary September 26, 2024
Decades of curiosity satisfied in 90 minutes! I timed my visit from Mexico City so that I could see the estate at last. Thanks for a great tour. James September 26, 2024
Thank you for a wonderful tour, wish there were pictures of the interior to purchase. Looking forward to coming back. George September 26, 2024
My mom and I loved the tour! The docents were fabulous. It was a truly fascinating tour—super interesting and the docents told us so much about the history of the family, house, decor, etc. It was a real thrill for us because we have looked up at that house for nearly 60 years and wondered about it so to be able to see it up close and personal was wonderful. Thank you VERY much for a wonder morning at Bellosquardo! Jonna September 25, 2024
"Our visit to Bellosguardo was, simply, superb—in every way! Our two docents were the most delightful, enlightening and entertaining that we've ever encountered. It felt as if we were entering a private home, and guided by family members. Kudos to them, and to the training that went into the product. We can't wait for our next experience, when more of the estate is open for discovery. As Santa Barbara was my wife's home, we had many visits with friends, where we spread the word about our tour. Of course, most of those friends had already visited Bellosguardo. We will continue to spread the word to our friends in the Bay Area—many of whom travel to Santa Barbara often. Again, many thanks and we WILL return! Brian September 25, 2024
We loved the tour. Our guides, Ryan and Eugene, were terrific! I am a retired librarian, living in town on the Mesa, and would love to help the Foundation with the Clark Family Library. I have a resume I could send you as an email attachment. Of particular interest to you may be the work I did at Oxford University's Bodleian Library. I inventoried, catalogued, and created study guides for the Papers of the Primrose League for the Dept. of Western Manuscripts. I loved every minute of my work with this special collection. Many thanks for all you are doing to make Bellosguardo such a wonderful resource for the community. Leslie September 24, 2024
Well worth the wait to see this hidden treasure. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour! Eugene and Ryan were excellent, we really appreciated Eugene's tip for lunch! Debora September 23, 2024
We enjoyed our visit/tour SO MUCH. Our docents were outstanding! So knowledgeable and enthusiastic and lively—they had great personalities and we all benefited by their really engaging and friendly way of imparting so much information! Not only are we going to come back, but we are going to bring more friends! Beatrix September 23, 2024
Excellent, excellent, loved the guides, truly thought I knew all about mansion and Clark family, but learned so much in this hour and half. Kurt September 20, 2024
Loretta and Sue were the best docents who made the experience come to life! Donna September 20, 2024
Thank you. Wonderful tour. You have to have at least one bench in the garden, for those of us who get fatigued or too hot. Jill September 18, 2024
I live part time in Montecito and part time in Montana. It was fun to learn more about the Montana connection. As a teenager I tried to sneak into the property a couple of times and was always caught. I'm glad that I got to see it legally this time. I will certainly try to arrange another visit with I have friends in town, and actually am trying to find someone to go to the musical even scheduled in October. Thanks for your tour and knowledge about this super unique property that Santa Barbara has the opportunity to treasure. Carolyne September 18, 2024
We are locals and have always wanted to visit the 'estate on the hill' and are so glad we had the chance to now do so! Great tour with very knowledgeable and personal docents. We have been on many tours of Hearst Castle, including some very special back scenes tour and a swim in the Neptune Pool, but this tour was much more personable. Stan September 17, 2024
Fantastic tour with friendly docents. Bellosguardo is magical—truly hidden from the outside world. I look forward to visiting again. Susan September 16, 2024
Wonderful informative tour, will join you again. Of special interest are the various events you have started hosting. Joan September 15, 2024
We came from Ojai. Wonderful tour by Eugene and Ryan. Elizabeth September 15, 2024
Wonderful experience! Loved every minute. Excellent tour guides. I'll be back! Melissa September 14, 2024
Fascinating tour of a breathtaking mansion. The docents David and Ryan were brilliant: knowledgeable, entertaining, and enthusiastic about sharing what they know. The mansion is like nothing I've seen before—immaculately preserved and a jaw-dropping peek into lives of the tremendously wealthy from turn of the century. Alexander September 14, 2024
The docents were great! They very well informed and very personable. They were a great team. The building and grounds are amazing and the background story is fascinating. Thank you for making this tour available. Richard September 13, 2024
I am a local and wanted to see this treasure for a long time. The building and its contents were amazing and I loved every minute of my tour. The two guides were most informative and made the experience very, very special. Thank you to all involved. Michael September 11, 2024
Margaret and Gwyneth were very good docents and the small group made for an informative and great tour. What a gem from a bygone age. We travelled here from San Luis Obispo county and stayed overnight. We ate all meals in restaurants here during our stay. I will recommend this tour to our friends. David September 11, 2024
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour today. Our tour guides were outstanding—friendly and very knowledgeable! Pamela September 11, 2024
Wonderful place, love the small tour atmosphere where you can have one on one conversations, ask any question, and try to stump the docents. David and Sue were very knowledgeable and charming. In our group was a prominent architect and a successful landscape design architect. Both loved the tour and we can't wait to come back to see more of the place. I sincerely hope you keep the tours small and intimate, would love to have a dinner tour with dinner served outside under tents. Please do not make it into another Hearst Castle. I hope this place can be preserved just the way it is. Shannon August 14, 2024
The tour was stunning and the two tour guides were so generous and patient with all our many questions. Such a beautiful day. Nancy August 9, 2024
A wonderful morning today with two lovely guides. Four gals from our book club toured after reading Empty Mansions. FASINATING! Toni August 7, 2024
What a special day. We have known about this property for many years and were thrilled to finally visit. Our docents, John and Sharon, were a delight, filled with enthusiasm and knowledge. My partner and I travel to Europe every summer and as much as we enjoy learning and exploring, doing so alongside hundreds of thousands of others makes the process less enjoyable. Being able to experience this property in such an intimate setting was very special. I look forward to seeing how this property develops in the future. Jonathan August 6, 2024
Absolutely beautiful estate! The tour was excellent and informative. I highly recommend this tour. Carrie August 4, 2024
Just beautiful. We are coming back. Loved all the docents and staff. Anne July 31, 2024
Like a lot of people in my tour group, I wanted to see Bellosguardo after reading Empty Mansions. I'm not really sure what I was expecting, but the tour far exceeded it. The craftsmanship and attention to detail were incredible, like nothing I've ever seen before, particularly in the rooms that were transferred from the Clark family's former New York City mansion, which were transferred to NYC from castles in Europe. It's also amazing to see how well-preserved the house and furnishings are, considering Huguette owned it until her death in 2011 but hadn't been there since 1953. She spent a lot of money to maintain it just as her mother had it, and now we all get to enjoy it. My favorite room was Huguette's studio. She was a gifted painter. There were black and white photos of several of her paintings in the book, but you really have to see them in person. Our tour guides, Susan and David, were very knowledgable and answered all questions from the group as we went along. Abby July 29, 2024
Wonderful tour of a beautiful house. Kathleen July 28, 2024
Fabulous visit! Intimate and personal. Loretta and Ryan were both very knowledgeable and shared information in a fun and personable manner. Mette July 28, 2024
Amazing opportunity to see the inside of this estate and learn more about this history. Thank you for being open to the public and providing knowledgeable and pleasant tour guides. Quite a relatable and memorable experience having read Empty Mansions. Cynthia July 26, 2024
What a fabulous hidden gem! I have passed by the driveway 100s of times and had no idea what beauty was to be found behind the gates. The home and gardens have been well maintained. The docents were wonderful and steered our group of 9 through the first floor of this gorgeous mansion. The architectural details of the home are exquisite. The well maintained grounds are inviting. The view of the ocean is spectacular, as is the view of the mountains. Thank you for opening this exquisite estate to the public. Well worth the cost of admission. Carol July 26, 2024
This tour was more than I imagined it would be. The interior of the home is magnificent, and you are able to see so many rooms, and hear the history of this family. The grounds are extensive and beautiful, also. The docents were excellent as guides. I took my friend here for her birthday, and she said it was her best birthday ever. I think she was right. Susan July 24, 2024
A fantastic tour! Rob and Ryan were very informed and made sure we all had a fun experience. Definitely recommend touring beautiful Bellsoguardo. Carolyn July 22, 2024
The tour was absolutely amazing! Our docents, Eugene and Eric, were so enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable. The group was limited to 10 which was the perfect size and we never felt crowded or unable to hear what information was being shared. I'm excited to go again and perhaps attend an event in the future. As a local I've waited years for this opportunity. Well worth the wait! Stephanie July 21, 2024
Spectacular! So great to see the mansion and grounds and have some rich content. Gary July 20, 2024
Excellent docents. Spectacular grounds. A unique snapshot into the Gilded Age & Santa Barbara history. Steve July 17, 2024
I enjoyed the tour very much. Ryan and Eugene were entertaining and very knowledgeable. Pat July 15, 2024
Wow, what a tour. Dave and Ryan, our guides, were so knowledgeable about this home and the family. So interesting to see everything so well preserved and to have so much information about the people in whose footsteps we were able to walk. Thank you so much for caring for this place and for sharing it with us. Wanda July 15, 2024
Informative, friendly tour guides. Beautiful views. Amazing story. Gorgeous preservation. Will be back! Michelle July 9, 2024
We had a wonderful visit. The docent team were very knowledgeable and welcoming of questions. Many thanks for a terrific afternoon. Brian July 8, 2024
We had a wonderful time. Ryan and partner were knowledgeable, fun, and did a great job. What an exceptional place. Can't wait to return. Jeanne July 7, 2024
It was really special to be able to tour Bellosguardo and learn more about its history. I appreciate the knowledge and time the docents spent with us during our tour. Thank you to Loretta, Gail, and Gwyneth. Brandon July 5, 2024
What a treat to tour this special and storied estate! Dave and Leslie were amazing docents and provided the perfect amount of history and anecdotes. Autumn July 4, 2024
Fabulous tour and Sue and Jeremy were so informative. Highly recommend. Glynda July 3, 2024
Our docents, David and Leslie, were fantastic! John July 3, 2024
We had been waiting for YEARS to have an opportunity to see this lovely mansion. Our docents did not disappoint! They were extremely knowledgeable and engaging. Did not feel rushed, had plenty of time to roam the gardens and take in the beauty. Pamela July 1, 2024
Wonderful experience. Docents were superb and able to answer any questions. Looking forward to attending events in the future. Robert June 29, 2024
Ryan and Dennis were great. I came in not knowing much about the Mansion and came out of the tour more knowledgeable and curious to learn more. I will definitely be interested in attending future events and more tour experiences. Mario June 29, 2024
Loved seeing all the details and hearing about how special the house was to Anna and Hugette. Andrea June 23, 2024
Great docents—a wealth of knowledge. The history of the family is amazing. Margaret June 19, 2024
We enjoyed the wonderful tour of Bellosguardo and the docents were great! Judy June 12, 2024
My mother and I had the pleasure of visiting and it exceeded all expectations! We had the benefit of being in a small group, and Ryan and Eugene were fantastic hosts—they really brought the Clark story to life with their storytelling and humor. Kate June 2, 2024
Entry to the estate and the outside orientation were flawless and very welcoming along with learning fascinating facts related to the building. All of our docents shared their knowledge and added to each others as we toured the various rooms. Gaylee June 1, 2024
What a treat! The docents were fantastic. We'll be telling everyone they have to go too. Whitney June 1, 2024
I've waited years to do this tour after reading "Empty Mansions." It was on my bucket list, so I travelled from the Island of Bermuda to visit it. I certainly wasn't disappointed. The property is wonderful the guides were superb. My only criticism is that there are no guide books for sale. I really wanted something to bring home and show people. I know I can see it on the internet but that's not the same as having a beautiful book that I can pick up and look at any time. Carol April 30, 2024
We LOVED the tour. The trio of docents brought an interesting variety of voices and styles. The property is majestic and we loved seeing it in the pre-restoration phase. The gardens will be great again since the "bones" are already there. Best view in the area. Looking forward to some musical events. If I lived closer, I'd want to join the docents. Anne April 28, 2024
LOVED our tour! Beautiful mansion and grounds. Excellent delightful, knowledgeable, and engaging docents (Cynthia and Nancy are standouts). Fascinating and rich history. You leave enriched on so many levels, wanting to know more and return. I highly recommend and know I will be returning as they are constantly uncovering more information, fascinating stories, and treasures! Lisa April 27, 2024
We were so lucky that we got to tour this incredible property with three expert docents. They combined knowledge with a light touch, conveying their passion infectiously. Thank you so much Ryan, Sharon and (the particularly funny) Eugene. Patrick April 26, 2024
Thank you to the charming guides. Their playful interactions with each other were delightful. The property is, of course, spectacular. It was an incredible treat to see it. Victoria April 24, 2024
Fantastic! A truly amazing experience with wonderful docents and a fox sighting. Thank you so very much, will be back with more friends. Elizabeth April 19, 2024
What an amazing adventure to go on the tour. The docents were so knowledgeable and so willing to make the tour fit the needs of the tourists. Leslie April 18, 2024
Interesting tour and the hosts were enthusiastic and informative. Kelsey April 16, 2024
I found the tour interesting. It was a little long (one hour and forty-five minutes) without a rest stop or a place to sit. The tour docents were quite informative. I would have liked a handout containing the family trees of the various families that passed through the property. This family tree should contain the birth year and death year of all the members. Murray April 12, 2024
Unique property and a fascinating story. Docents are not only knowledgeable, they are enthusiastic and share both historic and biographical details about the house and the Clark family. I've known about the property for 20 years and it was great to finally tour it. Definitely worth a visit. Courtney April 11, 2024
Susan and Cynthia were AMAZING! They were fun, allowed for interruptions, and SO knowledgable. The property is stunning and we are so grateful that it is now open. We look forward to future events. Nancy April 5, 2024
We—4 well-traveled friends—loved it. Structure is exceptional, property magnificent and our docents, Susan and Loretta terrific! A great afternoon. Andrea April 5, 2024
Fabulous tour and wonderful docents. We all enjoyed our time learning about this incredible property and its rich history. Jasmine April 6, 2024
Great tour, superb docents, very special opportunity to visit a remarkable estate. Diane April 5, 2024
David and Thomas were outstanding Docents. Full of knowledge snd very welcoming. Rhonda April 3, 2024
Impressive and intriguing. Our foursome enjoyed the tour immensely. Ryan, our docent, was outstanding. Emily April 14, 2024
