The splendid Borromee gardens on the islands of Lake Maggiore will open their gates to visitors this spring on the 20 th March 2010. Opening hours on Isola Bella and Isola Madre will be from 9 am to 5.30 pm every day until the 17 th October.

Famed for their beauty, the two islands contain the palaces built by the noble Milanese Borromeo family. The magnificent renaissance residence on Isola Madre is surrounded by one of Italy  oldest and most prestigious gardens, while the baroque palace on Isola Bella crowns ten levels of terraced Italian gardens, filled with magnolias, orange and lemon trees, bay, pines and rhododendrons.

In the nearby town of Stresa, the gardens of Villa Pallavicino will also be open between March and October. These gardens extend over 20 hectares and contain many exotic trees and plants as well as over 40 species of mammals and birds. 

Info: www.borromeoturismo.it