Borromeo's Palace and gardens Tour
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How to reach island: Lake Maggiore Navigation
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www.borromeoturismo.it
This Is an example of a typical ltalian garden where nature has been modified to create a scenographic vision enriched with ornamental architecture and sculpture, reflecting pools and fountains and decorative flowerbeds laid out according to geometric designs, the various species planted in harmonious arrangements of colour.
The Borromeo’s original project called far the construction of ten terraces supported by balustrades and adorned with 1 9th century statuary, a succession of arcades alternating with polygonal turrets, a Baroque palazzo and a port. The complex was to have had the form of a ship to represent the glory of the noble family
In reality the project was never completed and seen from a distance the construction looks more like a multi-tiered cake; it has, however remained an impressive sight over the years. The original gardens have somewhat changed their appearance over time since what were once stretches of grassy lawn, meant to look like the flat decks of the vessel, are now, not surprisingly, covered with trees that have grown and flourished in the intervening years.
Narrow paths around the palazzo lead to the inner courtyards, like the Cortile di Diana or the Teatro di Ercole adorned with a series of statues inserted into special niches, or the Giardino d’Amore which is especially famous for being the setting of romantic encounters between Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte during their sojourn here in 1797. The gardens were further embellished with numerous botanical species, from jasmine to orange and pomegranate, not to mention, orchids, rhododendron, azaleas and camellias. Isola Bella then, not only for having been named after Isabella d’Adda, Carlo III Borromeo’s wife, but also because of its magnificent gardens on the ten most famous terraces of the Borromeo Gulf.
