We talked about Borromeo Islands their natural beauty and their history several times.
But this time we would like to suggest our brides and grooms some useful information for a wedding on the three main islands of Borromeo Gulf: Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori.
A special thanks to Piero Gatti – wedding photographer in Stresa – for the great Borromeo Islands’ images he provided us.

These three islands have a rich vegetation and a mild climate all year long, thanks to Lake Maggiore waters, sun rays exposition and wind shielded position. Here you will appreciate a Mediterranean micro climate and you will see delicate and exotic plants.

If you are thinking about getting married on Borromeo Island take April and May in consideration. You will find showers sometimes but rhododendrons, magnolias, azaleas and camellias blooming is amazing. It could be the perfect frame for amazing wedding pictures.

As far as transports are concerned all islands are reachable thanks to ferries or lovely motorboats services. They may be able to transfer even big groups of people.

Booking the boats you could have an exclusive use of the boat or ferry to enjoy a lovely tour on the lake during the day or even at night to appreciate an amazing panorama.

Lake is most of the time calm and quaint there are not storms or heavy rain except for summer storms in late summer.
Waters are calm too and in less than 10 minutes you can reach islands from mainland.

Borromeo Gulf has a lovely Alpine frame around it but each Island has its own character and peculiarity. We will tell you more in next posts.

Stay tuned!

All images © Piero Gatti – wedding photographer in Stresa.

For any information about wedding on Lake Maggiore please CONTACT the Lake Maggiore Wedding planners team.

Lake Maggiore Wedding team is made up of several professional wedding planners and floral designers with a long experience on Lake Maggiore locations.
The Team knows the territory in every single detail and will be able to follow you on every important choice you will take.

LMW planners team is dedicated to providing the very best to our couples. Weddings are an emotional time. Let a wedding coordinator help relieve the stress of the planning and allow you to enjoy the day.

First comes love… then comes planning!

If Isola Madre and Isola Bella are known for their great palaces and gardens and could be the perfect frame for your wedding pictures, Pescatori Island could be the best location for a perfect reception on the lake shores. This thanks to its wonderful position and rich gastronomic tradition.

Pescatori Island is the only one that is not part of Borromeo Family properties.
It is a liggle village with no more than 50 inhabitants. Fishing was the main occupation in the past some members of local families are still fishers.
You can see this heritage all over here starting from the little port where you will see many fishing boats.

It is such a peaceful place so you will meet many cats and frogs especially in July. Little nice frogs jump all over the narrow roads of the islands.
In this idyllic place there is a quite corner: a little garden with a terrace on the lake. You will read a big white sign with the name Belvedere on it.

Hotel Ristorante Belvedere is located on North East part of Pescatori Island far from busy port.
It has been managed from the same family for 4 generations. In 1921 restaurant hosted Charles De Gaulle who had lunch there during his honeymoon.

Today Belvedere Restaurant can host up to 200 guests inside the charming rooms and on its two gardens on the lake. Your reception to Hotel Ristorante Belvedere can be arranged on the open air by the lake shores, in the wide garden under the porch of booming flowers or inside the charming and bright veranda. You could also choose the lovely dining room once called La Grotta (the cave) because walls were all in stones.
The venue has been just refurbished but still preserves the charm of the ancient appeal. From all corners, including the dining room you could see Isola Madre and its great botanic park.

Belvedere Restaurant mainly serves fish dishes hand made prepared combining precious ingredients of Lake Maggiore and close valleys. Cheese lovers will taste Toma of Ossola valley and natural Gorgonzola. While wine lovers could choose among great Piemonte wines such as Barolo, Dolcetto, Barbaresco or pick great local wines of Novara valley.

During the day Pescatori Island could be reached with ferry lines of Navigation of Lake Maggiore or with a motorboat of taxi boat services.
For your dinner reception the restaurant will offer a free boat shuttle from Isola dei Pescatori to Stresa and vice versa.
This way you and your guests could be free to decide how and when leaving the Isle.

Bride and groom will have the possibility to have for them a traditional boat: a great opportunity to remember magic moments!

Valentina Lombardi is the Italian Lakes Wedding coordinator for Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore area. She follows Italian and foreign bridegrooms who wish to celebrate their wedding in Piemonte and Italian Lakes area.
Valentina is Italian; she has worked in event organization business for years before becoming a wedding planner.

For more information about weddings on Pescatori Island – Lake Maggiore, please contact us.

All images © Italian Lakes Wedding and:
Photo 1: Italian Lakes Wedding
Photo 2: Giorgio Gnemmi – Studio ArteFoto, Omegna
Photo 3, 4 and 5: Hotel Ristorante Belvedere, Isola dei Pescatori – lake Maggiore
Photo 6: Enrico Mocci – ArteFotoArona, Arona – lake Maggiore
Photo 7, Piero Gatti – Foto Smile, Baveno – lake Maggiore

The Grand Hotel Majestic is located in Pallanza, which faces the Island of St. Giovanni, the thirty-year summer residence of Arturo Toscanini. It is a fascinatingly beautiful Belle Epoque hotel distinguished by its incomparable architectural dignity, grand frescoed rooms and extensive lakeside English garden. Its construction became the impetus for the city’s booming tourism in 1870.

The optimal motivating attraction for nobles and the elite to choose to construct their luxurious villas in this region was primarily the agreeable situation amongst the exceptional panoramic peacefulness of the cape complete with surrounding mountains and mild climate.

From many of the hotel’s 99 rooms and 4 suites the dreamlike view of the lake’s serenity, surrounded by the mountains and the captivating beauty of the Borromean Island’s architectural and botanic artistry, can be marveled at. On the Isola Madre and the Isola Bella, just a few minutes away from the hotel by boat, the Borromeo Dynasty buit two luxurious domiciles in the 600’s surrounded by some of the most beautiful gardens of the Lake Maggiore. Of all the gardens in the world, these gardens are surpassed in the beauty only by the magnificent botanical gardens of Villa Taranto housing 20.000 plants species, 1.000 of which had never been cultivated in Italy before. The garden is within walking distance from the Grand Hotel.

Enchanted by the aquamarine panorama of the lake, as seen from the terrace of Majestic, Eleonora Duse had her tailor fashion a dress “…in the same color as the lake”. Among an array of illustrious artists who have been accommodated in the ambience of the Grand Hotel are Grazia Deledda and the composer Claude Debussy. To name a few, the boats of the Stuarts, the Queen of Romania, the monarchs of Italy, the noble families of Germany, Indian Princes and Maharaja were docked here…In short, the personalities symbolizing “bon vivre” of the 800’s have enjoyed the splendor of the hotel.

After some decades of decline, the Grand Hotel Majestic underwent a long restoration period and was returned the dignity of its past. Its rejuvenation brings the true value of its classical style to life and gives the impression of being immersed in an atmosphere of times gone by, all the while offering its guests adequate services with attention focused on today’s comforts.

Upon entering the Grand Hotel Majestic, you are enthralled by the class and elegance of it’s reception hall, clad with original wooden floors, bronze chandeliers and art deco’ lamps designed by Florentine craftsmen.

From here you can take a look up at the rooms on four floors, visible from the interior court with white marble columns. Just a few steps ahead you can take in the panoramic view from the terrace tables in one of the lounge bars.

A succession of elegant and comfortable sitting rooms unwind along the entire façade, giving guests views through the picture windows of the terrace and porches overlooking the lake. At each of the two ends of the building are two large drawing rooms that re-evoke the fabulous ballrooms of the palaces of the past.

The marvelous view can be taken while dining at one of our two restaurants: “Il Rossini” chic and appetizing, and “La Beola” serving local a la carte specialties from the Verbano.
The Hotel has two main function rooms, The Toscanini and The Intra, which are perfect for holding meetings and banquets in a truly unique atmosphere: decorated in period style, the rooms are elegant, stylish and bright, thanks to the wide windows that overlook the porch and the lake and afford a spectacular view.

Come nice weather, one can enjoy sitting on the porch under the arcades in the garden. The recreational program of the Grand Hotel Majestic offers excursions by boat or limousine to enjoy the sun at private beaches or to practice various sports in the vicinity like sailing, golf and horseback riding.

Beauty Farm is available to the hotel guests who would like to take an invigorating and toning swim in the pool, utilize the fitness center, or benefit from a relaxing massage.

The guests at the Grand Hotel Majestic can count on high quality accommodations and facilities, thanks to the recent meticulously carried out renovations and additions, which return an air of a poetic era: the magical beauty and splendor of this elite hotel renders it refined and in harmony with the magnificent Lago Maggiore, and a place where its guests can enjoy the most relaxing and revitalizing vacations.

It has been some months that Stresa mayor gave his availability to conduct civil legal ceremonies on wonderful Isola dei Pescatori of Borromean Islands directly. We have already mentioned this lovely archipelagos in some of our previous articles we posted, telling you about wonderful Botanic garden to Isola Madre and extraordinary Borromean Palace to Isola Bella. Isola dei Pescatori (fishermen’s Island) is the third one of this group.

The small harbor of the island is well protected from wind, preserving a few left fishermen boats made exclusively of wood. The main street of the island is very picturesque, short, narrow and full up with shops, small cafes, restaurants and beautiful stone houses.

Must be very interesting living here, where everything looks so friendly and easygoing. Some terraces are decorated with fishing nets or equipment telling us who is living in. Houses, decorated with lots of greenery, are congested making a kind of wall, which protect the inner street from cold northern winds.
Ancient Church of San Vittore is definitely worth a visit whilst you are there.

Italian Lakes Wedding Team will be pleased to help you arranging a wonderful event on this spot of Lake Maggiore. Groom and guests could reach islands with a ferry boat leaving from Stresa or Baveno or other lovely town on lakeshore. Right after will come the bride on a decorated boat for her own. Everybody will wait for her on Island pier.

After a romantic and rich ceremony, bride and groom will enjoy a touristy trip on the lake to take their wedding pictures directly on the boat or the wonderful islands and corners of Borromean archipelagos. Guests could enjoy a bot trip too, admiring and knowing better this lovely lake. They will also have a nice aperitif directly on the boat.

Receptions venues are many for sure! We have just told you about the beach resort for a casual wedding, 1700 and 1800 villas on the shores on the hills above Stresa, Pallanza and Ghiffa with great view on the Lake. Soon we will also tell you more about famous luxury hotels located in Stresa and Pallanza that are dated back to 1800!

For the ones who are looking for an intimate reception, we suggest to stop to Isola dei Pescatori to taste a delicious dinner in one of the good restaurants of this Italian corner of Lake Maggiore. Here you will taste the best fish cuisine of the area.

But if you are looking for something really unique we will be happy to help you arranging a reception directly on one of the boat of Compagnia di Navigazione del Lago Maggiore (Navigation Company of Lake Maggiore). Thanks to an excellent catering service we could arrange for you a very original dinner for groups up to 100 guests. An itinerary special event where you will taste good food and great wines while listening great music and enjoy an unforgettable view!

Discover the hidden charm of the Isola dei Pescatori and lovely Lake Maggiore, you will fall in love with them. This is just fascinating, the ideal wedding destination!

Valentina Lombardi is the Italian Lakes Wedding coordinator for Lake Maggiore area. She follows Italian and foreign bridegrooms who wish to celebrate their wedding in Piemonte and Italian Lakes area.
Valentina is Italian; she has worked in event organization business for years before becoming a wedding planner.

For more information about civil legal wedding on Isola dei Pescatori, Lake Maggiore, please contact us.

All Images © Italian Lakes Wedding and:
Photo 1: Claudio Fogli – Foto Pony, Pallanza
Photo 2: Giorgio Gnemmi, Artefoto
Photo 3: Claudio Fogli – Foto Pony, Pallanza
Photo 4: Raffaello Mazzoleni, Artefoto
Photo 5: Claudio Fogli – Foto Pony, Pallanza
Photo 6: Photo27.com – Milan
Photo 7: Piero Gatti – Foto Smile, Baveno
Photo 8: Photo27.com – Milan
Photo 9: David Christian Lichtag

Isola Madre is the largest of the Borromeo islands and the most characteristic one, with its atmosphere of silence, meditation and enchantment. Flaubert, in 1845, wrote that ‘Isola Madre is the most sensual place that I have ever seen in the world’.

The Borromeo Islands are a group of three small islands and two islets in the Italian part of Lake Maggiore, located in the western arm of the lake, between Verbania and Baveno to the north and Stresa to the south. Stresa is Lake’s Maggiore’s main resort since 19th century, with many luxury hotels, villas and easy access to the Borromeo Islands.

In 1501 Lancillotto Borromeo, one of the five children of Giovanni III Borromeo and Cleofe Pio di Carpi, introduced the cultivation of citrus fruit to the island, the plants being brought from Liguria. It is known for certain that olives were cultivated here; the produce may have been employed for sacred purposes. In 1501 Lancillotto began the construction of the family residence on the island, which in the 1580s was extended in the renaissance style by Renato I Borromeo. The Palazzo Borromeo was built on the remains of the early church, cemetery and perhaps castle of San Vittore. In 1978 the 16th century palace was opened to the public. The visit is interesting for the reconstruction of the antique interior decoration and for the liveries, dolls and ceramics collection. Exceptional exposition of “Puppet Theaters” from the 18th and 19th Centuries.
Outside the Villa itself stands a magnificent Kashmir Cypress from Tibet, which is more than two hundred years old and is the largest example in Europe.

The Cappella Bianca, the family chapel of 1858, is also noteworthy; by contrast to that of Isola Bella, it contains no tombs or funerary monuments. Isola Madre is particularly famous for its flourishing azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias, for the espaliers of citrons and lemons and for the collection of hibiscus and the Ginkgo Biloba. There is also a garden of exotic plants and flowers where white peacocks, parrots and pheasants flying in total freedom, give the cram of a tropical island. The other end of the Villa has an ornamentally decorated and planted Pavilion, from whence you descend down to the deck for boarding the boat.

If you’re looking for a prestigious destination, the Isola Madre is the perfect frame for a luxuriant wedding!

The Borromeo Islands are a group of three small islands and two islets in the Italian part of Lake Maggiore, located in the western arm of the lake, between Verbania and Baveno to the north and Stresa to the south. Stresa is Lake’s Maggiore’s main resort since 19th century, with many luxury hotels, villas and easy access to the Borromeo Islands.

In 1817 the famous French writer Stendahl wrote, “What can one say of Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands…except to pity people who do not go mad over them.” Ernest Hemingway agreed, as well as a notable procession of famous others-Napoleon, Mussolini, Charles Dickens and English poets, William Wordsworth and Lord Byron.

These three marshy specks have stirred the imaginations of everyone from Napoleon to Stendhal, Dickens, Flaubert, Toscanini, and even Mussolini.
Isola Bella is undoubtedly the most famous of the Borromean Islands and when you see it today you can hardly imagine it as the tiny fishing village it once was. In 1632, Count Vitaliano Borromeo began its transformation with the construction of the palace and the ornamental gardens.
Isola Madre is the largest of the Borromean Islands and boasts a tranquil and enchanted atmosphere. It’s gardens are a pleasure to explore: filled with azaleas, camellias, rhododendrons, ancient wisteria they are truly beautiful.
In contrast to the other Islands, Isola Pescatori has retained it’s original charm. The Island has remained a quaint, picturesque fishing village with the traditional fishing boats anchored along the shore.

All fell under the spell of the Italian Lake District‘s spectacular beauty. Deep blue water reflecting the snow-capped mountains of Swiss and Italian Alps. The warm Mediterranean climate and the ever-blooming tropical flora of palm trees, magnolias, roses and camellias. The islands are filled with lemon groves, palm trees and other subtropical plants that climb around the collection of luxurious villas. Because of the incomparable, stately landscape and the prestigious history, Borromeo Islands offer a grand choice for a chic, original and truly Italian wedding.
The name Borromeo Islands derives from the Borromeo family, which acquired them in the fourteenth century and still owns some of them today. The Borromeo family is one of the richest families in Italy and has controlled land and Lake Maggiore for hundreds of years.

Two small islets complete the archipelago. Isolino di San Giovanni is located just off Pallanza (today part of Verbania) to the north. The tiny strip of land between Isola Bella and Isola dei Pescatori is known as Malghera island, but it is called Island of Love. The legend says that in ancient times the Borromeo Islands were dedicated to the worship of Venus and because they were located in the middle of the lake were suitable place for orgiastic ceremonies.

Italian Lakes Wedding strongly recommend a wedding in the Borromeo Islands if you wish make your wedding in Italy truly unforgettable. Wonderful settings are available for catholic, civil, protestant and symbolic weddings.
For more information, please contact us.