Isola Bella

While vacationing on Lake Como last May, we took a day trip over to Lake Maggiore to visit the three islands on the lake.  We made our way to the city of Stresa where there were plenty of boats that transport tourists to the three islands.  In this post I'll show you parts of the amazing villa on Isola Bella.

The villa was built by Carlo III of the Borromeo family in honor of his wife Isabella D'Adda.  The island's name Isola Bella was also to honor his wife.

He must have loved his wife very much because this was the most amazing villa.  It was huge and frankly a bit over the top in many ways.

In this post, I'll feature some of the rooms but, I'll have to post several other photos in different posts to cover some special features and the unbelievable garden.

The first photo was taken outside the villa and the next two are of the reception room.  This room made me think of the rotunda of the United States Capitol in Washington DC.  It was that big with it's own rotunda and dome.

There were paintings by Carracci, Cerano and Tiepolo that literally covered the walls of one room.

There was a music room that featured a beautiful inlaid piano-forte.

There was a tapestry hall with the walls covered in fine tapestries with an assortment of mythical scenes on them.

The bedrooms were bigger than my entire house with marble floors and marble tables.  And, of course huge chandeliers.  

Every room and every corner was decorated with statues, paintings and amazingly carved marble walls.

Keep in mind that I've only shown you a few of the rooms.  This villa was absolutely huge.

Next week I'll show the throne room which I think had to be the most over-the-top room of all.  You'll want to see it.