Isola Bella

TomassoRizzi's picture

Location

Lago Maggiore
Italy
45° 53' 43.0008" N, 8° 31' 37.9992" E
IT
General info: 

Looking across from Stresa to Isola Bella today it is hard to believe it was once a rocky island, home to a small community of fishermen. However until 1630 Isola Inferiore (as it was previously known) was a world away from the splendour that the Borromeo Family created.

In 1630 Carlo III Borromeo took the first steps to changing the island. He hired an architect to design a castle-type building where the palace currently stands and a more elegant casino at the highest point of the island. Carlo also decided to name the island after his wife, Isabella D’Adda, and it became known as Isola Isabella (later to be shortened to Isola Bella).

In spite of Carlo’s plans it was to be his sons, Vitaliano VI Borromeo and cardinal Giberto III Borromeo who really transformed Isola Bella. Abandoning the original architect’s plans and dropping the idea of a casino they planned the palace and gardens.

And so work began on the palace and the terraced gardens and although the palace was basically finished in 1670 and the gardens were inaugurated in 1671.

Getting there: 

There is a regular ferry service to Isola Bella from Stresa, Laveno, Pallanza and Intra. The ferry from Stresa to Isola Bella leaves frequently, roughly every half hour in summer (www.navigazionelaghi.it).

The ride is short: Isola Bella is just 5 min. from Stresa in one direction, and 5 min. from Isola Superiore in the other.

Costs: 

One-way ferry tickets from Stresa to Isola Bella cost €3.50 (from Isola Superiore it's €2; from Isola Madre it's €3.80).

Combined admission to the Borromeo Islands: You can get admission to just one island (Isola Bella is €13, Isola Madre is €11), both islands together (€18), or to both islands plus the Rocca Borromeo in Angera (€21.50 for all three; €8.50 for the castle by itself)

Interesting places nearby

The ski area Oberstdorf-Söllereck/Höllwies is known to be very family-friendly. There are lots of possibilities or activities you can puruse during your winter vacation in Oberstdorf-Slöllereck/Höllwies.

Obertauern is one of the Alps’ most snow reliable areas. That means perfect skiing conditions from the end of November till the beginning of May.

The compact and hence very family-friendly ski resort of Golzentipp, as well as the whole Hochtal, is a secret tip - if there ever is one. Especially beginners, children and less experienced skiers will find an almost ideal ski resort.

Warmensteinach offers six ski lifts, of which two are open late to offer floodlit skiing, The resort also caters for people on a tight budget with lower rate day passes.

The Oberwiesenthal - Fichtelberg area, an attractive and unique area, favourably situated as regards transport facilities in the midst of Germany, offers a natural and varied countryside.

There is chairlift access to the skiing from both sides of the mountain. In Bischofsgrun there are three lifts serving trails with lighting for night skiing, and two with snow-making.