For over 400 years, this Italian island has been home to a splendid Baroque palace, surrounded by equally spectacular gardens. A place suspended in time, shaped by centuries of transformation and meticulous care.
It may be a tiny speck on Lake Maggiore, but it is undoubtedly one of Italy’s most striking. From the Piedmont shore, Isola Bella draws every eye with its ship-like silhouette and lavish Baroque palace. Completely transformed in the 17th century, the island is open to visitors, revealing cascading terraces, remarkable monuments, and sweeping views over the lake and surrounding mountains.
An island reshaped by a great Italian family
Located around 400 metres off Stresa on Lake Maggiore, Isola Bella was far from postcard-perfect in its early days. Until the early 17th century, it was little more than a rocky outcrop inhabited by a handful of fishermen, with two small churches and modest gardens.
Everything changed when the Borromeo family—already owners of Isola Madre—decided to turn it into an exceptional residence. In 1632, Count Vitaliano VI Borromeo launched an ambitious project to transform the island into a true floating palace. For nearly forty years, hundreds of artisans worked to shape this extraordinary vessel-like island. Gradually, lush terraces, fountains and flowerbeds rose above the water, turning the rocky islet into a sublime Baroque garden.
A Baroque palace and spectacular gardens set on the lake
What is there to see on the island. First, the gardens, visible even from the lakeshore. Arranged across ten successive terraces, they cascade down towards the water, offering sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. Flowerbeds, fountains and statues punctuate the landscape, culminating in a grand open-air amphitheatre once used for performances.
The other treasure of Isola Bella is the Palazzo Borromeo, a jewel of Baroque architecture. Built in the 17th century and enriched over time, it features lavishly decorated rooms adorned with frescoes, master paintings, sculptures and period furniture. Throne room, ballroom, library—each space reveals a remarkable level of refinement.
A legendary island in Italy
Today, Isola Bella remains one of the most celebrated sites on Lake Maggiore. Still owned by the Borromeo family, it is carefully maintained—its head gardener, Gianfranco Giustina, was even named the world’s best gardener in 2016.
Over the centuries, it has welcomed notable figures: Napoleon Bonaparte stayed here in 1797, while Ernest Hemingway drew inspiration from the lake’s landscapes for A Farewell to Arms. More recently, the island served as a filming location for The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cate Blanchett. It was also chosen by Louis Vuitton for its Cruise 2024 show.
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