This Small Italian Island “Isola Bella” Features a Palace and a Luxuriant Italian-Style Garden!
Isola Bella is located on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy. It is a very small island with breathtaking views. The island is 320 meters long and 400 meters wide. Isola Bella is famous for its grand palace and beautiful Italian-style gardens. The Borromeo family transformed this island over the centuries to this elegant retreat that we see today.
Over the centuries, Isola Bella has drawn visitors from around the world. Isola Bells’s strategic location on Lake Maggiore adds to its allure, with panoramic views of the lake and the surrounding mountains. Until 1632, the island was occupied by a small fishing village. After Carlo III constructed the grand residence “The Palazzo,” the island took the name of his wife ‘Isabella D’Adda.’ Even today, the island holds the beauty of a luxurious Palace, its Italianate garden, and a small fishing village.
The History Behind Isola Bella
Before the 1600s, Isola Bella was a rocky piece of land in Italy. However, in 1632, Carlo III Borromeo made a bold decision to turn this island into a Super luxurious residence. He named the island after his wife, Isabella D’Adda, meaning “Beautiful Island”. With time, architects and artists were hired to bring the island to life. Milanese Angelo Crivelli was responsible for most of its architecture and for the planning of gardens.
Moreover, tons of soil were brought in to create the gardens. Then slowly, terraces, statues, and lush greenery added made the island a grander place. Each new generation of the Borromeo family contributed more to the Isola Bella.
Around the midcentury, a plague called ‘Duchy of Milan‘ hit Northern Italy. This halted the construction of the palace for a while. The construction later began when the island passed to Carlo’s sons, Cardinal Giberto III (1615–1672) and Vitaliano VI (1620–1690). Rest of it was completed by the Milanese architect Carlo Fontana. He turned the palace into a place to hold grand parties and theatrical events even suitable for the noble.
The Borromeo Palace: A Baroque Marvel
The Borromeo Palace on Isola Bella is one of the most well-known features of the island. It was designed in the Baroque style. It is famous for its elaborate and dramatic designs. Visitors get to see the palace’s amazing grand facades and its richly decorated interiors. Inside the Borromeo Palace, is an impressive collections of art. Collections such as Flemish tapestries and paintings by artists like Luca Giordano.
In addition to the grand rooms, the palace also contains unique grotto rooms. These rooms built resembles the natural caves, decorated with shells, pebbles, and stucco. It gives them a cool and a nice, serene atmosphere. Not only that, visitors are also delighted by the palace’s furniture, gold-painted ceilings, and colorful frescoes, which add highly to its beauty.
The Stunning Gardens of Isola Bella
The Italian-style gardens on Isola Bella are considered unique masterpieces of art and nature. Architects had carefully designed the terraced gardens filled with statues and fountains . As a result, the gardens rise up ten levels, offering breathtaking views of Lake Maggiore. Visitors can see a wide variety of plants, including camellias, citrus trees, and other exotic species.
Visitors of can also see white peacocks that roam through the gardens. This adds a magical touch to the experience of Isola Bella. At the top of the gardens is the Teatro Massimo. It is an amphitheater-like structure. This offers a panoramic view of the lake and serves as a focal point of the island. As visitors walk through these carefully designed landscapes, the blend of nature and art always mesmerizes them.
Isola Bella’s Global Inspiration
The charm of Isola Bella has reached beyond Italy’s borders. In fact, the island inspired a neighborhood in Oklahoma City, USA. Although it does not have the historic palace or gardens, it features Mediterranean-style homes and beautiful lawns, giving it a touch of Isola Bella‘s beauty.
This proves how the elegance of this island has inspired people around the world. Consequently, the name “Isola Bella” has become a global symbol of luxury, beauty, and peace.
Visiting Isola Bella: A Journey Through Art and Nature
The island achieved its peak social success during the period of Giberto V Borromeo (1751–1837). Noble guests included Edward Gibbon, Napoleon and his wife Joséphine de Beauharnais, and Caroline of Brunswick, the Princess of Wales.
Isola Bella is now a famous tourist destination that attracts over 300,000 visitors a year from all over the world. Visitors can reach the island by ferry from Stresa. Stresa is a charming town on the shore of Lake Maggiore. Upon arrival, visitors can see the majestic Borromeo Palace, standing tall against the backdrop of the lake.
Guided tours are available once on the island. The given service allows visitors to see the great rooms of the palace and get more detailed information about the Borromeo family. It is possible to visit the gardens independently, which will allow finding a quiet place and enjoying the beauty of nature: the bright colors of flowers and the delicate scent of citrus trees create real magic while walking along the paths.
The best time to visit Isola Bella is in spring or early summer since in this season the gardens are full of blossoms. Isola Bella attracts nearly 300,000 tourists each year, showcasing its global interest as a very famous tourist destination.
Conclusion
Isola Bella stands as evidence to the creativity and dedication of the Borromeo family. The island’s transformation from a rocky island into a luxurious retreat is a story of passion, art, and nature. Borromeo Palace, with its Baroque grandeur and the carefully crafted gardens, remains captivating to all who visit.
Isola Bella is not just a place to visit but a destination to experience. The island has something to offer to everyone, whether one is interested in the art, the history, or the nature that is atop it. Its magic has charmed audiences for centuries and will keep doing so for many more generations that come afterwards.
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