Isola Bella, Lake Maggiore, Italy

© Massimo Ripani/eStoc

Isola Bella, Italy

The picturesque lake in today’s image is Isola Bella, which translates to Beautiful Island, one of the Borromean Islands on Lake Maggiore in the north of Italy. The island is one of Italy’s national treasures, a favourite visitor attraction famous for its 17th-century Baroque palace and extensive Italian-style gardens which span ten terraces. Isola Bella is an obvious choice if visiting the Borromean Islands, and not to be missed if you want unparalleled views of the lake and its surroundings.

The island was the project and passion of the Borromeo family, who launched the grandiose project that led to the creation of the Palazzo Borromeo and the manicured gardens filled with statues, water features and grand flower arrangements. What started as an island inhabited by fishermen, with just two small churches and a few vegetable plots, transformed over 400 years into the breathtaking island we know today. Visitors can explore many parts of the opulent interior of the palace, which are a stark contrast to the narrow, cobbled streets of the island’s village.