BORROMEAN ISLANDS, the name of two islands called Isola Bella and Isola Madre, situated. ih the most western bay of the Lago Maggiore, deriving their general name from the family of Bor iomeo, to whom they, belonged.
The Borromean islands have been described with the greatest enthusiasm by Bishop Burnet and by Keysler as among the finest places in the world. Keysler says, " that these islands can he compared to nothing more properly, than to pyramids of sweet meats, ornamented with green festoons and flowers." Keysler has given a very minute description of these islands, of which we shall avail ourselves in our ac count of the Lago Maggiore. At present we shall tent ourselves with laying before our readers the brief description of them given by Mr Coxe, vihddoes not seem to be such an enthusiastic admirer of these arti ficial islands. " As the taste of mankind alters with the succession of years, I considered it only as a mo nument of expense and folly. Terrace rises above terrace in regular gradations, bordered with flower pots, or gigantic statues of horses, gods, and god desses. The whole is raised upon arches, and the. soil has been brought from the share to cover them.. The palace is magnificent, and contains a profusion of marbles and paintings. The lower part of the house overhangs the lake on one side, where several apartments are furnished in the style of grottos ; the floors, pillars, and walls, are inlaid with various co loured stones, marbles, and shells ; the view and the • coolness united make this part a delicious summer • retreat. If any thing justly gives this island the ap
pellation of enchanted, it is the prospect. from the terrace. The gradual diminution of the mountains, from the regions of eternal snow to the rich plain ;, the sinuosity of the lake ' • its varied banks ; the bay of Marzozzo, bounded by vast hills; the neighbour ing burgh of Palanza, and more distant view of La veno ; the numerous villages ; the Isola Madre, on which is a palace of the Borromean family; and ano- • ther island, sprinkled with fishermen's. huts, form a delightful assemblage. These islands, and the whole western coast of the lake to the village of Locarno, was ceded to the King of Sardinia by.the late Em press Queen at the treaty of Worms, in Consideration of the assistance which she received from that mo narch." See Coxe's Travels in Switzerland, vol. iii. lett. 91. p. 312. Burnet's Letters. in Switzerland, Svo. 1636, which is also in Harris's Col lection of Voyages, vol. ii. ; and iceysler's Travels, vol. i. lett. 35. p. 374, &c. (j)