Be aware: Your ferry ticket will not cover the palace and gardens. These cost an additional 13€ per person. That said, the gardens make for a lovely walk, and the peacocks are a delightful addition. They're friendly enough to approach crowds (and we sat beside one as we enjoyed a drink at the cafe.) The path is often steep however, and contains a large number of stairs, which might cause difficulties for some visitors. Also, the palace is littered with crude waxworks dummies, which made it more like a House of Horrors than a museum.

This place is of timeless beauty, it is extraordinary and absolutely deserves to be visited. Pause to read next to each exhibited object, you will be captured by the details that at first sight the eye cannot focus. On the effigy of the Borromeo we read "humulitas", it certainly makes a little smile, in all my life I have never seen so much pomp. Very beautifull! Strongly recommended.

Palazzo Borromeo on Isola Madre, situated on Lake Maggiore, is a serene 16th-century residence reflecting the private life of the Borromeo family. Its elegant rooms feature antique furnishings, tapestries, and a remarkable puppet theatre with one of the world's most extensive collections. Surrounding the palace is an eight-hectare English-style botanical garden, home to rare plants, ancient wisteria, and Europe's largest Kashmir cypress. Free-roaming peacocks and exotic birds enhance the island's tranquil charm. A visit offers a harmonious blend of art, history, and nature.

Worth the visit! We visited Palazzo Boromeo on our half-day tour of the Borromean islands. We bought a ferry ticket dockside in Stresa for 2 islands (Isola Madre and Isola Pescatore). I really liked this palace for three reasons. 1) It felt lived in and loved by its inhabitants. There were tableaux with furnishings, paintings and statues of men and women dressed in typical aristocratic clothes of the day. It wasn't glamorous or gilded everywhere ~ that kind of opulence is what you'll find on Isola Bella, should you decide to go there. 2) There is an extensive puppet theatre exhibit in a wing of the palace. At least 6 rooms are devoted to the puppets, scenery and costumes from their theatrical productions. I felt this was truly unique and unexpected. 3) The magnificent Cypress from Kashmir. The tree was restored to standing after a struck down during a storm. Also, the botanical gardens are lovely, and the peacocks and pheasants who make their home on the grounds.

Palazzo Borromeo dell'Isola Madre is one of the residences of the Italian noble family Borromeo (i.e. Palace on Isola Bella, Castle Rocca di Angera, Borromeo Palace at Milan, Castello Borromeo in Peschiera). Family paintings, tapestries, pieces of furnitures, works of art, objects that belonged to members of the Borromeo family,.. all take us back in time and we discover the history of this great family and its influence in the Valdossola/Lake Maggiore region and Milan between the 14th century and 17th century, when the Borromeo were able to gain control of many fiefs în the region. The Borromeo family tree includes important names that have marked the social and political life of the Northern region of Italy throughout its nearly 4 centuries of glorious existence. The influence of the noble Borromeo family reached the Catholic Church as well, where they showed devotion and held important positions. The best known members of the family were the cardinals and archbishops of Milan, Carlo (1538–1584), who was canonized by Pope Paul V in 1610, and Federico (1564–1631), who founded the Ambrosian Library. Carlo Borromeo, (1538, Arona–1584, Duchy of Milan) was an archbishop of Milan, cardinal, important representative of the Counter-Reformation, canonized as a saint in 1610. He is celebrated on 4 November (Roman Catholic calendar). During the plague epidemic of 1576–1578 he became involved in the pastoral care of the sick, which affected his own health. He died at the age of 46. He is the patron saint of the University of Salzburg. In popular Catholic religiosity he is considered a defender against the plague. Numerous churches, especially in northern Italy and Austria, bear his name, as: -The Church of St. Charles Borromeo in the Central Cemetery in Vienna, with the crypt of the Austrian presidents (foreground) -The Church of St. Charles Borromeo in central Vienna, a masterpiece of Austrian Baroque -The Church of San Carlo alle Mortelle in Naples. Federico Borromeo (1564–1631), Italian cardinal, Archbishop of Milan, and prominent figure of the Counter-Reformation in Italy. His acts of charity, particularly during the famine of 1627–28, and his devoted heroism in the plague of 1630 are well known. He was a great patron of the arts and he founded in 1609 the Ambrosian Library, one of the first free public libraries in Europe. The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana is one of the most famous art collections in Italy, including masterpieces such as Leonardo's Portrait of a Musician, Caravaggio's Basket of Fruit, Raphael's preparatory cartoon for The School of Athens, Titian's Adoration of the Magi, the Madonna del Padiglione by Botticelli and numerous examples of the famous vases of flowers painted by Jan Brueghel, Borromeo's lifelong friend. As patron of the arts, Federico Borromeo participated in the embellishment of the Duomo di Milano, where he is buried. As cardinal, Federico Borromeo participated in the papal conclaves of 1590, 1591, 1592, 1605 and 1623. His attendance in the first conclave of 1590 at the age of 26 made him one of the youngest Cardinals to participate in the election of a pontiff. The garden of the Palace has his own history... but what we see today is a splendid botanical garden with countless varieties of plants, trees and shrubs.

Beautiful Gardens. Palace is also a good walk thru with few interesting rooms. Not much info written on the signs.

The palace is magnificent and definitely worth a visit. But the real highlight is the gardens — they’re absolutely dreamy! Vast, stunning, immaculately maintained, and home to an impressive variety of plants and trees. It’s the kind of place where you want to stroll slowly and take in the beauty around you. Truly worth the visit!

A place to visit when you’re on the island.

A charming historic church that captivates visitors with its elegant simplicity and serene ambiance. Dating back to the 17th century, it features a beautiful baroque interior adorned with exquisite frescoes and decorative elements. The altar, dedicated to Saint Victor, is a focal point of the church, reflecting the rich religious heritage of the island. Surrounded by picturesque gardens and offering stunning views of Lake Maggiore, this quaint church is a peaceful retreat and a must-visit for those exploring Isola Bella.

(Translated by Google) After visiting the Borromeo Palace with its magnificent park, we had some free time. The streets are hot and we decided to visit this temple, almost adjacent to the palace. The Church of San Vittore Martire was built in the Baroque style. in the 1770s on the site of an older Romanesque building, which Borromeo received in order to be able to demolish it and build his gardens on the site. I can’t say that I was delighted with the luxurious interior and exterior decoration, but if you have time, I recommend a visit. (Original) После осмотра дворца Борромео с великолепным парком у нас осталось свободное время. На улочках жарко и мы решили посетить этот храм, практически примыкающий к дворцу. Церковь Сан Витторе Мартире построена в стиле барокко. в 1770-х годах на месте более древнего романское здания, которое Борромео получил, чтобы иметь возможность его снести и построить на этом месте свои сады. Не могу сказать, что были восхищены роскошной внутренней и внешней отделкой, но если есть время рекомендую посетить.

(Translated by Google) "WELCOMING" Among the churches on the Borromean Islands, that of Isola Bella is of more recent construction. It too, like that of the Fishermen's Island, was dedicated to San Vittore Martire, whose remains, some bones, are kept under the altar. In the past there was a church dedicated to the Saint on Isola Madre and it is thought to have been an inspiration for the others. Saint Victor was a Roman soldier of Marseille origins who lived during the period of the emperor Diocletian and who was martyred by decapitation in 286 AD. His cult spread to the Verbano area. On one wall you can observe a beautiful sixteenth-century fresco of Santa Agata. A small organ is located above the entrance door. Well maintained and little frequented by mass tourism which focuses on Palazzo Borromeo and its garden. (Original) "ACCOGLIENTE" Tra le chiese presenti sulle Isole Borromee, quella dell'isola Bella risulta di costruzione più recente. Anch'essa, come quella dell'isola dei Pescatori, è stata dedicata a San Vittore Martire, le cui spoglie, alcune ossa, sono custodite sotto l'altare. In passato esisteva una chiesa intitolata al Santo anche sull'isola Madre e si pensa sia stata di ispirazione per le altre. San Vittore fu un militare Romano di origini Marsigliesi che visse durante il periodo dell'imperatore Diocleziano e che fu martirizzato con la decapitazione nel 286 d.C. Il suo culto si diffuse nel Verbano. Su una parete si può osservare un bellissimo affresco cinquecentesco di Santa Agata. Un piccolo organo si trova sopra il portone di ingresso. Ben tenuta e poco frequentata dal turismo di massa che si concentra sul Palazzo Borromeo ed il suo giardino.

(Translated by Google) (Gustave Flaubert, 1845) Historical sources indicate that in the mid-ninth century on the island there was a church with a square-plan apse (a building probably constituting the reference to the matrix of a Verbanese macro-pieve dedicated to S: Vittore), a cemetery (the memory of which is perpetuated in the so-called 'staircase of the dead'); it is not excluded that a small military structure could also be built there, in analogy and assonance with the castrum of Sant'Angelo located on the Isolino di San Giovanni. It is known for certain that there were cultivations of olive trees, the production of which was perhaps used for sacred uses. In 1014 the emperor (Original) (Gustave Flaubert, 1845) Le fonti storiche indicano che nella metà del IX secolo sull'isola era presente la chiesa con abside a pianta quadra (edificio probabilmente costituente il riferimento alla matrice di una macropieve verbanese dedicata a S: Vittore), un cimitero (il cui ricordo si perpetua nella cosiddetta 'scala dei morti'); non si esclude che vi potesse sorgere anche un piccolo apprestamento militare, in analogia e assonanza con il castrum di Sant'Angelo sito sull'Isolino di San Giovanni. Per certo si sa che vi erano coltivazioni di ulivi, la cui produzione veniva forse impiegata per usi sacri Nel 1014 L'imperatore

(Translated by Google) The church was built in the second half of the 17th century. (Original) La chiesa fu edificata nella seconda metà del XVII secolo.

(Translated by Google) Church dedicated to Saint Victor the Martyr. A Roman soldier originally from Marseilles, he lived during the reign of Emperor Diocletian and was martyred by beheading in 286 AD. (Original) Chiesa dedicata a San Vittore Martire. Militare romano di origini Marsigliese, visse all'epoca dell'imperatore Diocleziano e fu martirizzato con la decapitazione nel 286 d.C.