The Borromean Islands, i.e. the Isola Bella, the Isola Madre and the Rocca di Angera on Lake Maggiore: many news that await visitors in the three jewels of the Borromeo Domains on Lake.
Among the first, the emotion of entering, at the end of a complex restoration, in the famous Caves of Palazzo Borromeo to Isola Bella. By the will of the Borromean Principles, teams of technicians specializing in the recovery of lapidei paraments, together with specialists in the restoration and maintenance of very different areas, have flocked in these months to bring the Grotte back to their maximum beauty.
And with the Caves, all the precious artefacts they host. The six large environments illuminated by the water of the lake, always amaze visitors. These environments, placed flush with water, in the northern body of Palazzo Borromeo on Isola Bella, appear entirely covered by millions of pebbles, stucco, mother of pearls, concretions, marbles, to want to recreate the feeling of entering into real caves.
The realization of these environments, wanted by Vitaliano Borromeo, to protect family and friends from the summer heat but also to amaze and entertain its guests, has requested more than a century, with different interruptions. The architects who succeeded in creating this amazing environment, but also the clients, had precise ideas and goals. To satisfy them the necessary materials have been selected and here brought also from far away, as well as from the territories of the lake.
Tens and tens of thousands of small fragments of concretions, rare marbles, rocks and shells, iron foams were assembled here according to precise designs to create a new fantastic world. There are statues, furniture, artifacts, all between water games, heraldic motifs and mosaics.
It is no wonder if, soon, these Caves became famous and that the illustrious visitors passing through Italy placed them among the unmissable destinations in the Grand Tour in the Country. The magnificent white marble statues found here have always amazed visitors for their beauty, sometimes creating unthinkable pruderies today. As in the case of the beautiful naked Venus, created by Vincenzo Monti on the example of the Sleeping Ninfa of Canova.
Speaking of this beautiful naked, the remonstrations of the most daring guests, had pushed Gilberto V Borromeo and think of disposing it, decision that fortunately did not follow. Currently the Caves are home to very different finds, of great interest. All submitted, in these months, to analysis and, where necessary, to cleaning or restoration.
Next to the precious marbles, you can admire collections of shells and fossil algae, but also protohistoric finds and a piro of the iron age found on the shores of the Lake, the historical model of the Bucintoro of Venice, clothing and armor of ancient Samurai, a small Hindu deity of the Mille, and much more: a wunderkammer where to gather treasures and curiosities, testimonies of the collectible taste of the family
