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The room itself was very nice as well, though we wouldn't be spending much time in it aside from when going to bed.
Next we visited Isola Bella, which is home to the Palazzo Borromeo and its adjacent gardens. The palace and gardens were constructed during the 17th century and upon completion served as the site of various parties and theatrical events for the European nobility over the years.
The gardens required far more time and I thought that they were definitely the highlight of the island. They were heavily manicured with some interesting structures, fountains and statues.
On Saturday we awoke to beautiful weather. Here’s the view of Lake Maggiore from our hotel room.
The room itself was very nice as well, though we wouldn't be spending much time in it aside from when going to bed.
We started the day by walking along Cannobio’s lakefront and taking in the main sights such has the “harbor,” the lakefront buildings (a few of which date back 600 years) and the Santuario della Pietà church.
Here’s a shot looking back at our hotel – it’s the red-colored building on the right.
After finishing up our brief tour of Cannobio, we drove down to see the Isole Borromee – a group of islands in Lake Maggiore named after the family that began to acquire them in the 1600s. They are accessible by boat via Stresa, a town 45 minutes south of Cannobio.
The first island that we visited was Isola dei Pescatori (Fisherman’s Island), which not surprisingly began as a fishing village. To be honest, it felt like a bit of a tourist trap, particularly given the relatively small size (100m x 350m) and masses of people who had come to the island to eat at one of the many fish restaurants.
That said, there were some interesting sights, including the San Vittore Church (one of the chapels dates back to the 9th century) and the adjacent cemetery.
Next we visited Isola Bella, which is home to the Palazzo Borromeo and its adjacent gardens. The palace and gardens were constructed during the 17th century and upon completion served as the site of various parties and theatrical events for the European nobility over the years.
The palace tour was relatively quick but nonetheless interesting. The subterranean “grotto” rooms definitely stood out the most, with their detailed stone work. They also offered a respite from the hot mid-day sun.
The gardens required far more time and I thought that they were definitely the highlight of the island. They were heavily manicured with some interesting structures, fountains and statues.
While the island is technically uninhabited, this local resident made his presence felt.
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