[2024 Stresa Attraction] Travel Guide for Isola Bella (Updated Sep)

#naturalbeauty Arriving by ferry (10 Euro per adult) we were impressed with the beautiful island while still on the water. It didn't disappoint. As everywhere in Lago Maggiore, the island has breathtaking views from every vista. This is the largest of the three Borromeo islands in Lake Maggiore. It has been home to the Borromeo family for a long time and it is full of precious treasures, from paintings to furniture to furnishings. The garden is beautifully kept and you have excellent views from the top terraces all up Lake Maggiore itself. For history, art, gardens and a wonderful day out, you can't beat these three islands: Isola Bella, Isola dei Pescatori and Isola Madre. Highly recommended. An hour's train ride from Milan's Central Station to Stresa, then a short walk down to the lakeside and the boats. In high season it might be best to book ahead. You can easily spend 3-4 hours exploring and longer if you stop for lunch. The Palazzo Borromeo was beautiful and the gardens extremely well kept, but the cost to visit was (in our view), a little too steep. We were unable to visit the gardens without going via the palace, which although impressive, felt very soulless. Saying that, it was absolutely worth the visit and is a must-do when visiting Lago Maggiore. #100WaysOfTravel

Island Garden Charm and Magic

Bella Island (ital. Isola Bella – "beautiful island") is a small island (320 x 400 m.) on the legendary Lake Maggiore — one of the most popular places for travelers in Italy. Almost all of its territory is occupied by a palace and a park located around it, which belonged to the influential Borromeo family. Architectural structures on the island became famous after Charles III (1586-1652 – a representative of the Borromeo family), as a gift to his wife Isabella, built a palace on its territory. Since 1636, the island has received a name that has become a phonetically abbreviated combination of two words: Island and Isabella. The construction of the palace and park was carried out by Angelo Crivelli, Francesco Castelli and, since the end of the XVII century, Carlo Fontana. Most of the figures were executed by the sculptor Carlo Simonetta (1662-1695). The central statue depicting a unicorn represented the heraldic symbol of the Borromeo family. Of the ten terraces, five overlook Lake Maggiore. In the eastern part of the garden there are large lawns with decorative plantings. In general, the entire landscape complex embodies the idea of Baroque theatrical scenography. Bushes representing heraldic signs were planted on the central site. The garden, laid out on the territory of the island, included about ten terraces (located one above the other), surrounded by balustrades and decorated with sculptures and obelisks. Their location emphasized the natural terrain, towering 36 meters above the lake level. Currently, a classical music festival is held annually on the island for all those who travel to Italy. The landscape design of the garden provided an opportunity to view the palace, the surrounding area and the lake from various points of view. The two upper terraces included large arches, from which paths diverged in different directions. The view from each terrace (which included its own collection of plants emphasizing its uniqueness) was framed by statues and obelisks. All this created a certain intrigue of "views".