Isola Bella and its baroque gardens on Lake Maggiore
Published on 09/22/2026 at 07:25 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Isola Bella rises from Lake Maggiore opposite Stresa as a palace joined to a terraced Italian garden. The island’s architecture gives it the outline of a vessel, with Palazzo Borromeo forming the prow and the gardens extending towards the southern tip.
Isola Bella: a palace shaped like a vessel
Isola Bella belongs to the Borromean Islands, together with Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori. It lies about 400 metres from the shore of Stresa, in Piedmont, northern Italy, and is almost entirely occupied by Palazzo Borromeo and its gardens.
The building and terraces form a long composition above the lake. The palace occupies the northern part, while the garden terraces rise towards the south. White stonework, balustrades, statues, clipped planting and architectural details create a baroque landscape arranged in layers above the water. The island’s outline is one of its clearest visual features, linking the residence and garden into a single composition.
Carlo III Borromeo and the name Isola Bella
In 1632, Carlo III Borromeo began the transformation of the island and commissioned a palace dedicated to his wife, Isabella d’Adda. The island was known before this period as Isola Inferiore, or the lower island, and the name Isola Isabella later became Isola Bella. the name Isola Isabella preserves that connection.
The work continued under members of the Borromeo family, including Vitaliano VI Borromeo. Milanese architect Giovanni Angelo Crivelli was involved in the early design, while Carlo Fontana contributed to the later development of the palace. The gardens reached a major stage of completion in 1671, during the seventeenth century.
Palazzo Borromeo and the theatre of the terraces
Palazzo Borromeo contains a sequence of ceremonial interiors, decorated rooms and collections associated with the Borromeo family. The palace is linked to the gardens through terraces, stairways and decorated architectural features. Its position at the head of the island gives the entire complex a clear division between residence and garden.
The gardens are arranged as a series of ascending levels, with formal planting, sculptures, fountains and balustrades. The highest terrace carries a prominent statue of a unicorn, one of the symbols associated with the Borromeo family. Lower terraces contain planting areas and architectural ornaments, while the lake remains visible beyond the stone edges.
Isola Bella’s baroque character lies in the relationship between built form and planted terraces. The palace, statues, walls and stairways are not separate attractions scattered across the island. They form a continuous garden architecture, extending from the waterline to the upper levels.
Visiting Isola Bella: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Isola Bella lies off Stresa on Lake Maggiore. Passenger boats from Stresa’s lakefront piers connect the town with the Borromean Islands.
- The island is reached by boat and explored on foot. Terraces, stairways and sloping paths form part of the garden layout.
- The palace and garden occupy most of the island, leaving the shoreline and landing area as the main open edges around the complex.
- The official language is Italian and the currency is the euro.
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Frequently asked questions about Isola Bella
Where is Isola Bella?
Isola Bella is in Lake Maggiore, opposite Stresa in Piedmont, northern Italy. It forms part of the Borromean Islands.
What can visitors see on Isola Bella?
Visitors can see Palazzo Borromeo, decorated interiors, formal terraces, sculptures, fountains and landscaped garden levels above the lake.
What makes Isola Bella distinctive?
The palace and garden form a vessel-like composition on a small island. Its baroque terraces rise behind the residence and create the defining silhouette of Isola Bella.
