Isola Madre
The Isola Madre ( German: Mother Island ) is one of the Borromean Islands and is the largest island in Lake Maggiore. The entire island (220 meters wide and 330 meters long ) is a historic building complex and a park covered, Palazzo Madre. Originally the island Isola di San Vittore was called ( German: St. Viktor Island ) and Isola Maggiore later ( German: Big Island ).
History
Historical sources mention in the 9th century a church on the island, which was dedicated to St. Victor (probably an offshoot of the parish church of Verbania ), and a cemetery. The existence of a military fort from this period - similar to the castle San Angelo on the Isolino San Giovanni - is not excluded, but can not be proven archaeologically. As secured, that has been obtained at that time on the island of olive oil to the sacral purposes.
From 1501 began Lancilotto Borromeo, one of five sons of Giovanni III Borromeo and Pio di Carpi Cleofe to breed on the island of citrus fruits, which he had come from Liguria together with a gardener ( " hortolano "). He also ordered the construction of a mansion which was to become the core of the palace complexes that have been extended from 1580 Renato I Borromeo in Renaissance style. During these years, also a dynasty of garden managers established hortolani, the Della Torre family, who lived on the Isola Madre until the beginning of the 19th century.
From about 1823 to 1825 transformed Giacomo and Francesco Rovelli, horticulturists from Monza, the cultivated parts of the island into a landscape garden in the English style in order and thus also preserved the originally preserved forest in the northwest of the island. This was done at the suggestion of Count Borromeo and Vitaliano Giberto V IX Borromeo Arese. The English garden on Isola Madre is an outstanding example of garden design in Italy.
Structures
- Palazzo Madre (built in the 16th to the 18th century on the remains of the original church, the cemetery and ( suspected) a fort )
- Family chapel of 1858 ( in contrast to the church on Isola Bella, no tombs contains )
- Landscape garden in the English style in an area of nearly eight acres, built on a citrus grove; famous is the " dead Staircase" ( scala dei morti ), probably named after the cemetery of the island, which was decorated in the last decades with a significant Wisteria Collection.
Today's meaning
The Isola Madre now serves as a landmark and museum, the palace is no longer inhabited. The island is accessible by boat, operated from Stresa a regular service, the route Stresa Isola Bella, Isola Madre Isola dei Pescatori -Stresa.