The Borromean islands consist of three smallislands and a couple of islets, visible from Stresa and will delight gardenlovers. The most noteworthy is the Isola Bella, named after the wife of the 17thcentury Count Carlo III Borromeo, Isabella. He determined to build her the mostsumptuous villa imaginable and imported tons of soil to what was no more than abarren rock. The result was an amazing baroque villa with fountains andstatues, ten terraces of orange and lemon groves, camellias, box trees, laurelsand cypresses. Inside, the opulent villa boasts splendid furniture and stillmore grottoes and there is even a collection of 18th centurymarionettes in the cellar. The Isola Madre is the largest of the islands andhas a small, tasteful villa, noted for its English-style gardens. Finally tothe Isola dei Pescatori, which is the only inhabited island of the archipelago,with its small fishing village.
