Borromean Islands

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The Borromean Islands (It. Isole Borromee) are a group of four small islands in the Italian part of Lago Maggiore, located in the western arm of the lake, between Verbania to the north and Stresa to the south. Together totalling just 50 acres (20 hectares) in area, they are a major local tourist attraction for their picturesque setting.

Their name derives from the Borromeo family, who have possessed them since the 12th century.

Isola Bella, named for Isabella, countess Borromeo, was originally a mostly barren rock; between 1650 and 1671, Vitaliano Borromeo built an attractive summer palace, bringing in vast quantities of soil in order to build up a system of ten terraces for the garden. The unfinished building displays paintings by Lombard artists and Flemish tapestries.

Isola Madre, the largest of the four, is also noted for its gardens, which are maintained in an English style. Its palace is uninhabited.

Isola dei Pescatori or Isola Superiore is the only inhabited island in the archipelago. It has a fishing village, which in 1971 had a population of 208.

Isola di San Giovanni is the smallest; it is located just off Pallanza (today part of Verbania) to the north.

[edit] See also

• Borromean rings
• Carlo Borromeo
• Federico Borromeo

[edit] External links

• Official Tourism Gateway Lake Maggiore Official Tourism Gateway
• http://www.verbanensia.org/biografie_details.asp?bID=532&action=B&tipo=2
• http://www.verbanensia.org/archivio_details.asp?archID=1461
• http://www.verbanensia.org/loca_select.asp?tipo=1
• Isola Superiore, Isola Superiore on Lake Maggiore - Tourist Guide.
• Isola Bella, Isola Bella on Lake Maggiore - Tourist Guide.
• Isola Bella, from The Official Tourism Gateway of Lake Maggiore.
• Isola Madre, from The Official Tourism Gateway of Lake Maggiore.

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