STRESA and ISOLA MADRE ISLAND private tour: Borromean Islands

The guided tour of Lake Maggiore starts from Stresa, one of the main tourist destinations in Italy. We will stroll along the elegant lakefront which offers a breathtaking view of the archipelago of the Borromeo Islands owned by the wealthy Milanese family, where you can admire noble villas and opulent Art Nouveau hotels.

From here our visit continues by boat on Lake Maggiore to reach the farthest and largest island, Isola Madre, along the Isola dei Pescatori and Isola Bella. Once on Isola Madre we will immerse ourselves in the splendid gardens of Palazzo Borromeo, residence of the Milanese Borromeo family, following a path inside the botanical park that extends for eight hectares, a true triumph of colorful exotic plants, rare plant essences from all part of the world, groves of magnolias and bamboo between stairways and statues that offer magnificent views of Lake Maggiore.

To complete a picture of such harmonious beauty there are colorful birds that live in perfect freedom in the park like pheasants and white peacocks that stroll peacefully in the meadows and bushes. The guided tour continues with a visit to the Borromeo Palace at the entrance to which we can admire the imposing Cashmir cypress, which arrived in 1862 from the Himalayas and has become the largest and oldest specimen in all of Europe.

The elegant Palazzo Borromeo is full of loggias and rooms furnished with tapestries, furniture and paintings from various historic homes that the noble family owned in Lombardy; from the large windows you have a wonderful view of the lake up to the collection of sets, productions, puppets that were part of the puppet theater used to entertain guests.

On the ground floor you can admire the splendor of the Venetian living room, a visual jewel of paintings, mirrors, Murano chandeliers and furnishings from the Serenissima of Venice.

The guided tour ends with the sepulchral chapel of the Borromeo family and the water lily pond before leaving the palace and taking the boat back to Lake Maggiore which takes us back to Stresa.

Included:

• Walking tour with licensed tour guide

Not included:

• Ticket Borromeo Palace + Borromeo Gardens (Isola Madre)
• Boat ticket round trip from Stresa / Isola Madre on Lake Maggiore
• Food and drinks

What to bring:

• Comfortable shoes
• Water
• Sun hat on hot days

Meeting point:

• Piazza Giacomo Matteotti square ( Comune di Stresa )