The Brissago Islands form the Botanical Garden of the Canton of Ticino. The smaller island (or Isola di Sant'Apollinare) is covered by spontaneous vegetation, mainly of Insubrian origin, which is left in its natural state. On the Isola Grande (or Isola di San Pancrazio), which has been open to the public since 1950, plants of subtropical origin from the northern and southern hemispheres have been planted. In 1885, Baroness Antoinette Saint-Léger chose the islands as her residence and often invited painters, sculptors, musicians and writers. The large island became an exotic garden.
In 1927, the new owner Max Emden, a businessman from Hamburg, had the current island palace, the harbor and the Roman bath built and expanded the care of exotic plants. The Botanical Garden offers a fascinating insight into the subtropical flora. Azaleas, rhododendrons, Japanese hemp palms, numerous camellias, Japanese bananas, bamboo and ginkgo take visitors to the Far East. The group of plants from South Africa surprises with protea, gazania, watsonia, agapanthus and lion's tail. Central America offers a completely different sight with magnolia, the American sweetgum, agave, swamp cypress (on the islands for 30 years with its roots protruding from the water), yucca, golden poppy, guaranitic sage, beschornerie, opuntia. The huge eucalyptus trees (among the oldest at the southern foot of the Alps), heather and acacias come from Australia. Shrub veronica, club lily and pagoda tree take visitors to New Zealand. The Mediterranean region is represented by sage, rosemary, holm oak, cork oak, Canary Island date palm, broad-leaved holm oak, strawberry tree, tree heather and pine. The Brissago Islands are part of the Gardens of Switzerland business, which brings together the most beautiful gardens. Closed during winter: open from April to November.
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