Switzerland and the adjacent portions of Italy, Savoy and the Tyrol : Handbook for travellers / by K. Baedeker. With nineteen maps, seven plans and seven panoramas.

  • Karl Baedeker
Date:
1867
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Switzerland and the adjacent portions of Italy, Savoy and the Tyrol : Handbook for travellers / by K. Baedeker. With nineteen maps, seven plans and seven panoramas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    514/572 (page 376)
    Pallanza (Universo, at the jwharf; Italia), the seat of the authorities of the province, is a thriving little town (29a0 inliab.J, most delightfully situated opposite the Borromean Islands. Bout ■with two rowers to the islands and back 4 fr., an excunsion of 3 hrs.; to Baveno 3 fr.; Diligence to Domo d'Ossola in 5 hrs., on the arrival of the boat from Magadino. Omnibus to Urta,' See above. The lake here foims an expansive bay, 41/2 M. long and 21/4 M. wide, extending m a N.W. direction, at the N. extremity of which is the iutlux ol the impetuous 7'osa. Pallanza (see above) and Suna are situated on ilie N.E. bank; on the S.W. bank Fanolo (Leone d'Oro, clean and moderate) where the Simplon-road leaves the lake (8 hrs. from Domo d'Ossola see p. 209), and Baveno (Be/levue), 3 JI. to the N.W. of Isola Bella, the usual point ot embarkation lor the Borromean Islands for travellers from the Simplon. Boats see p. 370. Those who prefer the steamboat to the Isola . Bella (see p. 370) should select Stresa (p. 373) as their starling-point, as the ■ steamers seldom touch at Baveno. The steamboats rarely call at any of the stations on the large W. bay of the lake; they generally pass the Isola Madre, and touch at the Isola Bella. The group of the so-called Bor- romean Islands consists of Isola Bella, Isola dei Pescatori or Superiore, Isola Madre, and, farthest to the N., Isola S. Giovanni. The first and third of these belong to the Borromeo family, the second to the fishermen who inhabit it; the fourth, see above! Count Vitaleo Borromeo (d. 1690) erected a chateau on Isola Bella, and converted the barren rock into beautiful gardens, rising on 10 terraces 100 ft. above the lake, and containing the most luxuriant products of the south: lemon-trees, cedars, mag- nolias, cypresses, orange-trees, laurels, magnificent oleanders, etc. The evening light is most favourable for the charming prospect which is here enjoyed. Grottoes of shell.s, fountains (dry], mosaics, statues etc. meet the eye in profusion, but in questio- nable taste. The Chdteau, the size of which is quite disproportionate to the extent of the island, is richly decorated, and contains a Collection of Pictures more numerous than valuable. The N. wing is in ruins. The view through the arches of the long galleries under the chateau is very striking. A domestic hurries visitors through the chateau (fee 50 c.—1 fr. for each pers.), and consigns them to a gardener, who shows the garden witli equal despatch for a similar fee. Adjacent to the cliateau is the comfortable *II6tel du Dauphin or Delfino (R. 2, L. V2> ^- ^1 ^- at 4 o'cl. 4, A. fr., Pension GVu fr-)- The steamboats do not ahvavs touch at Isola Bella, comp. the ''Orario, mentioned p. 412. Excursion of 2 hrs. by boat to tlie other islands with one rower 2'/2i with two 5 fr. The Isola Madre on its S. side resembles the Isola Bella, and is laid out in 7 terraces witli lemon and orange-trellises; on the upper terrace, a dilapidated Palazzo.' On the N. side