Baveno. The Borromean Islands

A small archipelago of five islands on Lake Maggiore is the main attraction of the lake, at least from the point of view of the architectural component. Two small islands, one of which is generally considered a rock, are unlikely to interest the guests of Piedmont, but Isola dei Pescatori, Isola Bella, and Isola Madre have a lot of beautiful medieval buildings.

Active development of the islands began in the 17th˗18th centuries, when the Italian aristocracy started to visit the lake. The archipelago was named after the Borromeo family, who were the first to build a wonderful castle in the middle of the lake.

Each major island of the archipelago had its own purpose. Isola Bella has become a huge garden with fountains, sculptures, and tropical plants. In the warm season, the park is open for guests, and you can get into it for 12 euros.

Isola dei Pescatori, or “Fishermen’s Island,” fully justifies its name; in its restaurants and cafes, they serve the finest dishes from the fish of Lake Maggiore.

The above-mentioned islands are closest to the camera. On the far side of the image, we can hardly recognize the largest island of the archipelago, Isola Madre. Its distinctive feature is the Alpine park with unusual plants and animals.