Day 1: Isola Bella, Stresa

We visited the Isola Bella in Lago Maggiore on the same day as the Isola dei Pescatore. Since the islands are only about 10 minutes apart by ferry (honestly, probably about the same length of time for a good swim as well), this was no rushed visit.

The Isola Bella, or Beautiful Island, is almost entirely occupied by the Palazzo Borromeo and its intricate gardens. A few restaurants and shops have been built up between the palace and the water but the palazzo and gardens are really the star of the show here. The first glimpse of the gardens is from the water. The highest point of the island is the garden terrace and we knew immediately that we’d HAVE to get up there.

After lunch (including a fresh caprese salad) near the dock, we headed for the palazzo. It was constructed in 1632 when the island was merely a big rock in a lake but the gardens weren’t finished until 40 years later. The construction was inspired by the vision of a ship anchored on the lake. The palace was built on the far west point with the gardens stretching back east. The palace itself actually isn’t in any of these photos. The last photo is obviously our boat view but all the rest are of the spectacular gardens.

Albino peacocks and ducks wander freely throughout the gardens. The botanical garden has spectacular and exotic flowers that were in full bloom during our visit. Wandering up the terrace (the immediate picture above is of the terrace. It looks like the façade of a castle but there are “hidden” steps that take you to the top), you overlook the water and have a full view of the garden below. With the water stretching out into the mountains nearby, we were reminded again how lucky we’ve been to have such amazing sights, tastes, and activities at our fingertips over the past two years. As we go into the last weekend (without internet for much of the time), we’ll be soaking up two final days in Milan. Arrivederci, Milano.