Isola Bella (Lago Maggiore)
The Isola Bella ( German: beautiful island) is an island in Lake Maggiore. It is one of the Borromean Islands and is found in the Borromean Gulf of the lake, about 400 meters before the church Stresa. It is 320 meters long and 180 meters wide, in the north- west it is built with the Palazzo Borromeo, connect to the itself in the southeast of the gardens of the palace.
History
Until 1632 the " isola inferior " was ( German: smaller island ) or " isola di sotto " ( German: Lower Island) a rocky elevation, on which was a small fishing village. Carlo III. Borromeo began to bulldoze the rocks and to build a palace on the island for his wife, Isabella D' Adda. According to her the island of Isola Isabella was named, with the years, the name shortened to Isola Bella. With the construction of the Milan architect Angelo Crivelli was entrusted, who was also responsible for the gardens the plant. The work had to pause in the middle of the 17th century, when a plague epidemic ravaged the Duchy of Milan.
Under the rule of successor Carlos the works were then resumed. Cardinal Giberto III. (1615-1672) and Vitaliano VI. (1620-1690) continued to build on the systems. Especially Vitaliano put significant resources into the work for which he won the Roman architect Carlo Fontana and which were mainly financed by his brother. In the palace were great festivals and theater performances for the European aristocracy. The planned large harbor on the northern end of the island, however, was never built.
Vitalianos successor Carlo IV (1657-1734) ordered its completion the terraced gardens, which were finally inaugurated in 1671. Under Giberto V. Borromeo (1751-1837) famous guests visited the island: Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine spent two nights on the island, as well as the Princess of Wales, Caroline of Brunswick, later Queen Caroline of England. This fell in love with during her stay - According to an anecdote - so in the place that she tried everything to get the Borromeo to to sell her Isola Madre or the Castelli di Cannero.
Jean Paul makes in his novel titanium (published 1800-1803 ), the main character Albano de Zesara spend the first three years of his life on Isola Bella in the Borromeo Palace and return him repeatedly there.
Today's meaning
The Isola Bella is now one of the tourist attractions on Lake Maggiore. They can be reached by boat from Stresa and each year attracts numerous visitors. The palace now houses a museum where the magnificent facilities can be visited with valuable tapestries and a shell grotto. Next to the palace and its garden are located on the west bank of some houses at the foot of the palace walls, which usually accommodate restaurants and souvenir shops.
Single Documents
Palace
Sideview
Patio
Park