What to see at Palazzo Borromeo: its history and interesting facts, both past and present

On a dream island, Isola Bella in Lake Maggiore, on the north-western tip, stands Palazzo Borromeo, an almost fairytale-like building that houses precious Italian art and architectural treasures.

What is the history of Palazzo Borromeo?

Work on the construction of Palazzo Borromeo began in 1632, on the orders of Carlo III Borromeo. It was designed by the Milanese engineer Angelo Crivelli, with the support of artists such as Pietro Antonio Barca and Francesco Maria Ricchino.

In the mid-17th century, work was interrupted due to a serious outbreak of the plague in the Duchy of Milan.

It was only at the end of the 17th century that the construction of the Palace recommenced, with enthusiasm and thanks to the valued support of Vitaliano VI, son and heir of Carlo III.

The completion of the northern façade, the pier at the upper end of the island and the construction of the famous Great Hall are all thanks to Vitaliano X (1892-1982).

Palazzo Borromeo: a closer look

The palace stands on the north-western tip of Isola Bella and can be seen from afar, with its imposing 80-metre-long façade, in the centre of which is the hall of honour, which juts out and extends upwards over two levels.
The structure stretches towards the centre of the island, perpendicularly, taking on a T-shape.

The most important rooms are on the first of the four floors, around the Salone, which has a domed roof and decorations that were only completed between 1948 and 1959, in keeping with the original design.

The piano nobile (main floor), designed for receptions and formal events, houses:

• the beautiful neoclassical ballroom, renamed the ‘Sala delle Colonne’ (Hall of Columns);
• the ‘Sala della musica’ (Music Room), so called because it contains precious musical instruments;
• the ‘Sala delle Medaglie’ (Hall of Medals), where ten gilded wooden medals are kept that show the key events in the life of St Carlo Borromeo;
• the Galleria degli Arazzi (Tapestry Gallery), where 6 Flemish tapestries from the 16th century are kept.

In one of the rooms, you can also admire a prehistoric dugout canoe, discovered in Angera at the end of the 19th century.

But that’s not all: there are also caves, which are obviously artificial; these are accessed via a 17th-century spiral staircase and are decorated with themes reminiscent of marine environments.

The architectural style of Palazzo Borromeo

Palazzo Borromeo is built in late-Gothic style, although, on the whole, one can see the many alterations that have taken place, mainly due to the bombings during the Second World War.

The façade is in exposed brick; on the doorway, blocks of white Candoglia marble alternate with blocks of red Verona marble. The stone archivolt, with its sculpted vine wreaths and oak leaves, is an ornamental element. The square windows, typically mediaeval, flaring outwards, are preserved from the original 14th-century design.

The courtyard is surrounded on three sides by porticoes with octagonal pillars, while the fourth side is open to the sky, and here you can admire what remains of the ancient frescoes on the façade.
Inside the palace, the eye is drawn to the cycle of frescoes of the Borromeo games dating back to 1450. There are paintings of a ball game and tarot cards, attributed to Michelino da Besozzo or, more generally, to the Master of the Borromeo Games.

The Italian gardens of Palazzo Borromeo

The Italian gardens of Palazzo Borromeo deserve a special mention. This is a true paradise with statues, fine architectural decorations and numerous botanical species.

The garden is laid out in terraces and parterres, with obelisks and stairways in the Baroque style.

The gardens are accessed from the ‘atrium of Diana’, so called because of the presence of a statue of the goddess.

From here, two curved staircases lead to the ‘Piano della Canfora’ (Camphor Floor), so called because of a two-hundred-year-old camphor tree. On one side of this floor is the amphitheatre.

The garden is famous all over the world due to the concentration of rare plants and exotic flowers. One such example is the largest Tibetan cypress in Europe.

Who owns Palazzo Borromeo?

The palace is still owned by the descendants of the Borromeo family and is currently used as offices and private homes.

Article translated by Jasmina Towers

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Buildings and Skyscrapers

Luxury Real Estate

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