Isola Madre, Botanical garden island in Stresa, Italy
Isola Madre is an island in Lake Maggiore with a large botanical garden featuring rare trees, exotic flowers, and various bird species. The garden covers extensive grounds and is accompanied by a villa with historic rooms.
The island was originally a fortified fortress in medieval times serving defensive purposes for the region. In 1501, Count Lancillotto Borromeo purchased it and transformed it into a garden and residential retreat.
The villa on the island holds rooms filled with the Borromeo family's collections of furniture and art from different periods. Visitors can see how the noble family lived and what objects mattered to them.
The island is accessible to visitors between March and October and can be reached by regular boat services from several lakeside locations. It is wise to wear comfortable shoes since the grounds are hilly and involve considerable walking.
A particularly large Kashmir Cypress tree, one of the largest in Europe, stands on the island and survived a severe storm in 2006 through an unusual rescue operation. This tree is older and larger than many others in European gardens.
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