Isola Madre

Welcome to Isola Madre, the largest and arguably the most tranquil of the Borromean Islands on Lake Maggiore. We are standing on an island that has been the private possession of the noble Borromeo family since 1501. …

The center of the island is dominated by the Palazzo Borromeo, a structure that reflects the refined and scholarly tastes of the family. Built primarily in the 16th and 17th centuries, the palace eschews the heavy baroque…

Standing proudly in front of the palace is the island's most iconic botanical treasure: the Cypress of Cashmere (Cupressus torulosa). This massive tree, with its drooping, blue-green foliage, is the largest and oldest specimen of…

Unlike the formal, geometric gardens of the Renaissance, the botanical park of Isola Madre was redesigned in the early 19th century in the 'English' style. This approach emphasizes a more naturalistic, 'picturesque' arrangement…

One of the most charming and unique features of Isola Madre is its population of free-roaming exotic birds. As you wander through the gardens, it is common to encounter white peacocks, golden pheasants, and silver pheasants…

Near the palace sits the small Chapel of Saint Victor, the spiritual heart of the island. The current structure dates back to the 16th century, but it stands on the site of a much older religious building. …

To conclude our tour of the garden, we must take a moment to enjoy the panoramic views from the island's eastern terraces. From here, you can look out across the Gulf of Borromeo toward the towns of Verbania and Stresa, and see…

As we prepare to leave Isola Madre, we take with us a sense of the island's profound tranquility and intellectual depth. We have explored a place where the history of a noble family has been written not just in stone and marble,…