Palazzo Borromeo, Art museum and palazzo in Stresa, Italy
Palazzo Borromeo on Isola Bella in Lake Maggiore is a baroque building with a distinctive T-shaped layout and a long central facade facing the water. The estate contains more than 20 rooms now displaying artworks, plus numerous garden terraces that step down across several levels.
Construction began in 1632 when Carlo III Borromeo decided to turn a simple island into an aristocratic residence. Over the following decades, the buildings were expanded and an art collection was assembled that still defines the property today.
The Borromeo family name reflects generations of patrons who shaped this place and displayed their collected treasures here. Today you can see how rooms were furnished with precious works to showcase the family's wealth and taste.
The palazzo is open to visitors from March through November and provides access to the furnished interior rooms and the garden terraces. Plan to spend time exploring both the indoor spaces and the outdoor areas, as both parts of the visit are worth experiencing.
White peacocks wander freely through the gardens, creating an unexpected wildlife element amid the art treasures. This unusual animal presence gives the place a fairytale quality that often surprises visitors.
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