Island splendour - Isole di Brissago
Overview
-
Hint
Intro
The idyllic Brissago Islands lie off the western shore of the upper part of Lake Maggiore. The larger island delights visitors with its unique botanical gardens and splendid manor house. On the Isola Piccola are the ruins of the medieval church of Sant'Apollinare.
The Brissago Islands in Lake Maggiore are located a short distance away from the Brissago and Ronco shoreline. The larger of the two islands, Isola Grande, is some 300 metres long and 100 metres across at its widest point. Already colonised in Roman times, this island was later the site of the small San Pancrazio basilica, which lent it its official name. It then had a succession of varied owners and, in recent centuries, has served as a refuge, religious site, holiday resort, hunting ground and meeting place for writers and artists.
The first person who was instrumental in shaping the island's present appearance was the Russian baroness Antoinette de Saint Léger, who acquired the neglected islands in 1855 and set about creating the botanical gardens. In 1927, German businessman Max Emden purchased the islands and erected a magnificent neoclassical villa with Roman baths, orangery, moorings and a terrace with breathtaking vistas. In 1949, the islands were acquired by Canton Ticino and the lakeside communes of Ascona, Brissago and Ronco, then opened to the public a year later.
Today, Isola Grande is home to the most important botanical garden of its kind in Switzerland. Here, over 2,000 Mediterranean and tropical plant species populating the two-and-a-half hectares thrive in the mild climate. The elegant villa houses a hotel with restaurant. The smaller island, with the ruins of the medieval Sant'Apollinare church, can also be visited.
Trip tip
The Brissago Islands are open to visitors every day between March and November, and can be reached by boat from Ascona in 20 minutes. The highlight of the trip is the botanical garden. Refreshments are available at the Villa Emden hotel and restaurant.
ISOS
ISOS is the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites of national importance. The inventory is maintained by the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) and lists the most significant settlements in Switzerland. Today, some 1,200 places are included in the inventory, from hamlets right through to cities. The inventory provides information on the development and identity of the settlements listed in it, thereby contributing to the preservation of architectural diversity in Switzerland and promoting both sustainable planning and a high-quality Baukultur.
