The Isole Borromee (Borromean islands) are a group of 3 islands on lake Maggiore. They are named after the Borromeo family, a noble house from Milan which was the feudal lord of the lands in that part of Lombardy and still owns the islands.
Isola bella was named after Isabella, the wife of one of the princes who embellishes the island with its lavish gardens.
Originally, Isola bella was a rocky fishermen’s island. The Borromeo gradually expanded the palace and gardens by buying out the fishermen’s plot, brought soil to the island and [built a traditional italian style garden](https://www.isoleborromee.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Terre-Borromeo-teatro-massimo-isola-bella-1024×576.jpg) filled with citrus. In the XIX century, with the fashion for the landscape garden, the Borromeo brought many exotic plants from Asia, the Americas and Oceania in the garden, as well as Indian white peacocks.
Thanks to the size of the lake and the Alps blocking northernly winds, there is a microclimate that allows the exotic plants to prosper onto the island, such as magnolias, camelias, a massive camphor tree and other rare plants.
Isn’t this the island that inspired Hayao Myazaki for the design of that Hotel island in Porco Rosso? Looks exactly like it.
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The Isole Borromee (Borromean islands) are a group of 3 islands on lake Maggiore. They are named after the Borromeo family, a noble house from Milan which was the feudal lord of the lands in that part of Lombardy and still owns the islands.
Isola bella was named after Isabella, the wife of one of the princes who embellishes the island with its lavish gardens.
Originally, Isola bella was a rocky fishermen’s island. The Borromeo gradually expanded the palace and gardens by buying out the fishermen’s plot, brought soil to the island and [built a traditional italian style garden](https://www.isoleborromee.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Terre-Borromeo-teatro-massimo-isola-bella-1024×576.jpg) filled with citrus. In the XIX century, with the fashion for the landscape garden, the Borromeo brought many exotic plants from Asia, the Americas and Oceania in the garden, as well as Indian white peacocks.
Thanks to the size of the lake and the Alps blocking northernly winds, there is a microclimate that allows the exotic plants to prosper onto the island, such as magnolias, camelias, a massive camphor tree and other rare plants.
Isn’t this the island that inspired Hayao Myazaki for the design of that Hotel island in Porco Rosso? Looks exactly like it.