Lake Maggiore: Borromeo Islands and the General Berthier art collection

On the Borromeo islands there’s this old collection of paintings – named after General Berthier – that will soon open its doors to the public.
In fact from the end of June onwards visitors will have the opportunity to see and enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the Borromeo palace where the European aristocracy used to meet and merrily enjoy the pleasures of life.

The palace gallery features 130 paintings which have been hung on the walls according to their original position and distribution.

As you know back then the aristocracy loved to have copies of the most famous paintings in the world, so people will also be able to see and admire several reproductions of works by Guido Reni, Raffaello, Tiziano and Correggio.
The collection also features original paintings by Borgognone, Boltraffio and Sampietrino and many other 17th century artists such as Crespi, Discepoli and Nuvoloni; all great Masters from Lombardy.
Besides this famous gallery you can also get a look at the amazing throne room, a real baroque masterpiece that I’m sure will take your breath away.

Lady Diana, for one, visited the place with Prince Charles in the 1980s and was deeply struck by its enchanted beauty.

This room along with the other one called the Queen’s room ( Elisabetta Christina of Austria slept there in 1708) was designed by Vitaliano Borromeo, founder of the family fortune.