Already emerging during the Ice Age, a document from September 22, 846, testifies to the presence on the island – then named Isola di San Vittore – of a few houses, a small church dedicated to the saint, and some olive trees intended for producing oil used in liturgies.

During the medieval period, the Isola di San Vittore was owned by various proprietors (abbots and bishops). A document dated 1501 confirms the transfer of ownership from the bishop of Novara to the noble Lancillotto Borromeo.

Through marriages, the Isola di San Vittore passed around 1520 to the Trivulzio family, and in 1563, Renato Borromeo regained ownership of the property, which he renamed Isola Renata. He gave new impetus to the construction of the palace by calling Pellegrino Pellegrini, also known as the Tibaldi, a prominent figure in Lombard culture and trusted architect of Carlo Borromeo, archbishop of Milan. This period is responsible for the late 16th-century appearance of the Palace that we still see today. The gardens also saw significant progress thanks to the architect Filippo Cagnola, who in 1710 meticulously captured the staircases, pergolas, and vases.

By the end of the 18th century, the Isola Madre had taken on the appearance it essentially retains today and began to be considered a place of peace and rest due to its mild climate and lush nature.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the garden was transformed into a romantic garden, according to the taste of the time. Almost all the terraces of the island disappeared, giving way to perspective views framed by tall plants. Cultivations also changed, and rare and exotic plants collected by Vitaliano IX, a botany enthusiast, were introduced.

Subsequently, greenhouses (1826) and the family chapel, commissioned from 1858 by architect Defendente Vannini, were built.

At the beginning of the 20th century, there were plans to transform the Isola Madre first into a hotel and then to rent it privately to a very select clientele.

The future of Isola Madre was shaped by Giberto and Bona Borromeo Aresetra in the 1960s and 1980s: the palace (sumptuously furnished with furniture and works of art from the Villa Borromeo Arese in Cesano Maderno) and the vast gardens have been permanently designated for public enjoyment since 1978.

The English Garden

With its eight hectares of extension, it is the largest island in Lake Verbano.

Its botanical heritage and strong exotic influence have made it the most voluptuous place seen in the world (cited by Gustave Flaubert). The current English-style botanical park was created in the early 19th century, and since then, it has housed plants and flowers brought from distant travels and acclimated due to the mild and favorable temperatures.

Today, the Isola Madre's garden is unique for its rare plant species from all over the world. Continuous and exuberant flowering, thanks to the work of expert gardeners, constantly renews the corners of the park: from groves of magnolias to those of bamboo, from fragrant wisteria pergolas to citrus trellises, from antique camellia and rhododendron parterres to pools overflowing with water lilies and lotuses. Eucalyptus, palms, and bananas coexist with a collection of conifers and maples. In the height of summer, hibiscus, bougainvillea, and ipomoea enhance the thrill of a journey within a journey.

THE MILD CLIMATE HAS ALLOWED THE SETTLEMENT OF A SURPRISING FLORA RARELY FOUND IN OTHER PLACES: RARE PLANT SPECIES FROM THE MOST DIVERSE LATITUDES AND SPECTACULAR FLOWERING MAKE IT A TRUE EARTHLY PARADISE. UNIQUE IS THE TERRACE OF THE PROTEAS, A PREHISTORIC FLOWER SYMBOLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA THAT HAS FOUND ITS IDEAL ENVIRONMENT HERE. COMPLETING SUCH HARMONIOUS BEAUTY ARE COLORFUL BIRDS LIVING IN PERFECT FREEDOM IN THE PARK. SILVER AND GOLDEN PHEASANTS, WHITE PEACOCKS, WALK PEACEFULLY IN THE MEADOWS AND AMONG THE BUSHES.

The Story of the Kashmir Cypress

Overshadowing the Palace is the imposing Kashmir cypress, which arrived here in 1862 from the Himalayas in a bundle of very fresh seeds and has become over the years a symbol of Isola Madre.

It is the largest and oldest specimen of its kind in Europe, which, in its native land of Tibet, is now endangered.

The tornado that struck the north of Isola Madre in June 2006 also left its mark on this gigantic tree. Saving it was a high engineering and botanical operation. Although it will never return to the forms that made it "the most beautiful tree in the world," the great cypress of Isola Madre remains a witness to the Borromeo family's dedication to preserving natural heritage.

Since 2002, the gardens of Isola Madre, along with those of Isola Bella, have been part of the prestigious English circuit of the Royal Horticultural Society.

Palazzo Borromeo

In the Palazzo of Isola Madre, the private dimension of the family is prioritized.

The style is elegantly sober: a succession of loggias and rooms, furnished with tapestries, furniture, and paintings from various historic residences owned by the Borromeo family in Lombardy.

Among the most important rooms: the Reception Hall, the Hall of the Seasons, the Venetian Salon, the Library, the Hall of Battles, and the Hall of the Popes. Everywhere, from the loggias and large windows, you can catch suggestive glimpses of the lake and the botanical park.

Porcelains and livery, family paintings, canopied beds decorated with sumptuous brocades create a fascinating fresco of courtly life.

The Venetian Salon

Located in the sunniest part of the palace, entering the Venetian salon feels like being under a pergola supported by intertwined columns with plants and flowers. Mirrors, Murano chandeliers, and furnishings evoke the taste of the Serenissima.

A perfect and refined trompe-l’oeil that enchants the visitor.

On Isola Madre, the blooming flowers, exotic species, scents, and rare plants create an idyllic atmosphere where time seems to stand still.

Next to the water lily fountain and the Chapel of St. Vittore, you will find the completely renovated Café and bookshop.

The spaces have been expanded with the old greenhouse areas, preserving the style and materials, such as the completely restored terracotta floor.

SEASON 2024

The 2024 season is scheduled to open from March 16 to November 3, 2024.

Isola Madre is open:

From March 16 to October 26, 2024

Every day from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (last admission), closing of the Palace at 5:30 PM, closing of the gardens at 6:00 PM

From October 27 to November 3, 2024

Every day from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (last admission), closing of the Palace at 4:30 PM, closing of the gardens at 5:00 PM

It is advisable to always check the website www.isoleborromee.it or contact the call center +39 0323.933478 for information on opening hours.