Old Gardens of Italy 7 



ISOLA BELLA, LAGO MAGGIORE. 



FORMERLY Isola Isabella. The laying out of the 

 garden was commenced in 1632 by Count Carlo 

 Borromeo, and was continued by Count Vitaliano 

 IV. Carlo Fontana, Castelli, and Crivelli had all a 

 share in the construction of the palace and grounds, 

 while the planning of the water-works was carried 

 out by Mora, of Rome. The work was finished 

 in 1671. The grounds are daily open to visitors. 



The old model in the palace, showing the scheme 

 for the whole island which it was intended should 

 be covered entirely by the palace and its grounds, 

 gives a better idea than anything else of the unity 

 and harmony of the plan, so frankly artificial yet 

 so entirely in keeping with its surroundings. The 

 palace was never completed, but on the model the 

 beautiful water entrance that was projected is 

 clearly seen. 



The garden, the most important in Lombardy to 

 students, is fully described in all books on the 

 subject. There is a detailed description in Dr. G. 

 Burnet's " Letters." He visited it only fourteen 

 years after the completion of the garden, in 1685. 

 Two features, however, a hasty visitor might over- 

 look. One is the extremely clever way in which 

 the commencement of the central walk is hidden 

 from the palace and from the courtyard. Owing 

 to the shape of the island it was impossible for this 

 walk to be placed in a straight line from the axis of 

 the house. It is reached by a double staircase from 

 the court, and on emerging the walk is seen 



