Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Castles

Shell Grottos of the Palazzo Borromeo, Isola Bella

Castles

Shell Grottos of the Palazzo Borromeo, Isola Bella

Highlight • Historical Site

Shell Grottos of the Palazzo Borromeo, Isola Bella

Recommended by 93 hikers out of 94

Save

Location: Stresa, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Piedmont, Italy

Save

See hikes here

Take Me There

Routes here

Best Hikes to Shell Grottos of the Palazzo Borromeo, Isola Bella

1. Tour of the Borromee Islands on Lake Maggiore

2.46km

00:38

10m

20m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Easy

4.9

(18)

hikers

2. View of Isola Bella – Baveno Town Hall loop from Roncaro

10.5km

02:53

150m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

4.9

(8)

hikers

3. View of Isola Bella – Stresa Waterfront Promenade loop from Stresa

8.70km

02:15

50m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

Tips

Paul

September 2, 2021

Palazzo Borromeo, Isola Bella
The magnificent Palazzo Borromeo, the Palazzo Borromeo is like a huge museum
Do not miss the opportunity to enter the sacred halls of the huge baroque palace. The Palazzo Borromeo is like a huge museum that brings together a multitude of precious and unique exhibits. This collection begins with original paintings and furniture, but does not end with sculptures, antique weapons, Flemish tapestries made of silk and gold or frescoes from the 16th to 19th centuries. Impressive halls are hidden behind the lovingly designed facade. In the Palace of Isola Bella, don't just discover the Napoleon Salon. You can also see the throne room, the alcove room, the armory or the dance hall. The Palazzo Borromeo also houses a music hall, where a famous historical event took place in 1932. At that time, representatives from France, Italy and England took part in the historic Stresa Conference. The palace is divided into six underground halls, completely deliberately imitating natural grottos, the walls of which are clad in tufa. In addition, the walls are decorated with mosaics and fantastic stucco work depicting fairytale underwater worlds. This architectural ensemble is rounded off by replicated stalactites, which are complemented by objects and relics of the Golasecca culture that are difficult to define. If you leave the picturesque gardens and Palazzo Borromeo behind you on Isola Bella, the small village is sure to catch your eye. There are a few restaurants and shops in this village.
Text: lagomaggiore.de/sehenswuerdheiten/isola-bella
lagomaggiore.de/sehenswuerdheiten/isola-bella

Translated by Google •

Marco SMG

June 10, 2022

You have to pay an entrance fee for the beautiful gardens.

Translated by Google •

Atze (Roland H.)

September 25, 2022

The palace and palace gardens are a MUST for any visitor to Lake Maggiore and well worth the price of admission.

Translated by Google •

Hans-Peter & Heidrun

April 1, 2025

Until 1632, Isola Bella was a rocky outcrop on which a small fishing village stood. Carlo III Borromeo began leveling the rock and building a palace on the island for his wife, Isabella D'Adda. The Palazzo Borromeo and its gardens are a prime example of Baroque art. The palace features salons with views of the lake, numerous paintings by famous artists, precious furniture, marble, neoclassical stucco, ancient sculptures, armor, and Flemish tapestries made of silk with gold thread. The basement contains several shell grottoes with light and dark stone and shell decorations. The gardens are staircased and pyramid-shaped, based on ancient models, and are bordered by balustrades, on which numerous statues of mythological heroes and animals are scattered.
Source: Wikipedia

Translated by Google •

Bettina

July 31, 2025

It's a shame that you have to pay for every extra and every nice thing, but that's just the way it is - but of course it's definitely worth it; perhaps you should consider before your trip which sights are so important that you're "happy" to pay for them.

Translated by Google •

Bezufahe🇺🇦✌️

April 9, 2023

Reserve a full day to visit the castle and gardens. You will be blown away by the amount of fantastic artwork and architecture and the phenomenal garden.

Translated by Google •

Naxxos

July 26, 2025

You should definitely plan enough time to visit the palace, because it is really worth it.

Translated by Google •

In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

Details

Informations

Elevation 250 m

Weather

Today

Saturday 15 November

11°C

10°C

100 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 1.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Stresa, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Piedmont, Italy

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Isola dei Pescatori

View of Isola Bella

View of Lake Maggiore from Tre Montagnette

Ponte Romana Over the San Bernardino Gorge

View of Isola Bella

Stresa Lakeside Promenade

Isola dei Pescatori (Isola Superiore)

Coda dell'Isola dei Pescatori

Monte Crocino Summit Cross and View of Lake Maggiore

Panoramic Terrace with View of Isola dei Pescatori

View of Lake Maggiore

Shell Grottos of the Palazzo Borromeo, Isola Bella

1. Tour of the Borromee Islands on Lake Maggiore

2. View of Isola Bella – Baveno Town Hall loop from Roncaro

3. View of Isola Bella – Stresa Waterfront Promenade loop from Stresa

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️