The first day in Verbania the guide took us on a small tour around the city. Afterwards we took a water taxi to the Borromero islands. The first island was Isola Bella. We unfortunately had very limited time there since we went with the travel company’s tour of all three islands. We had to rush through the amazing baroque castle and barely had time to check out the garden.
Isola Bella (lit. ‘beautiful island’) is one of the Borromeran Islands of Lago Maggiore in north Italy. The island is situated in the Borromean Gulf 400 metres from the lakeside town of Stresa. Isola Bella is 320 metres long by 400 metres wide and is divided between the Palace, its Italianate garden, and a small fishing village.
Source Wipikedia
The island is a natural treasure made even richer by human intervention; it has always been one of the favourite visitor attractions of Lake Maggiore, not to be missed if you want unparalleled views of the lake and its surroundings. Isola Bella is dominated by its sumptuous Baroque palace, along with a luxuriant Italian-style garden, which reaches a height of 37 metres and is laid out on ten terraces. Many parts of the palace are open to visitors: richly furnished rooms and opulent salons embellished with priceless artworks.
Source Isola Bella
Adjacent to the palace and the gardens is part of the village which used to occupy the island, with some restaurants and souvenir shops.
Everything is gorgeous, especially the ceilings. The pictures are a bit crooked since we were in a hurry.
Hall ceiling.
Aside from the ceilings, there was Murano chandeliers everywhere.
Murano glass is glass made on the Venetian island of Murano, which has specialized in glassware for centuries.
.
.
Agate and other semi precious stones are inlaid in the bureau’s.
.
.
.
.
The paintings was almost working as wallpaper.
.
In the end of the room there was a bed.
.
.
The craftsmanship is amazing.
There was even a throne with a canopy above.
.
.
.
The next room was filled with Murano glass.
Then a circular room with a round ceiling.
.
The family crest includes a unicorn.
I loved the pink music room’s ceiling.
.
.
View from bedroom.
The island you can see from here is Isola dei Pescatori (meaning Fishermen’s Island).
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The next blog post will continue in the stone basement. I can’t describe it so you’ll just have to wait for the pictures.
Helle Gade 