Isole di Brissago - Brissago Islands
These two islands on Lake Maggiore have been protected as the official Botanical Park of the Swiss Canton of the Ticino since the 1950s. Originally, the larger island was cultivated as a garden in the late 18th century by Antoniette Saint Leger and later embellished---with an Italianate palace, among other things---by a German industrialist in the 1920s. Evidence of the Romans has been found on the smaller island. But it is the larger island, the Grand Ile (shown here), where over 1500 species representing plants from throughout the world are now on display in a setting that is dramatic, poetic, natural, elegant, and wild... all at once.

Magnificent stonework is a feature of this garden.	A path winds through the bamboo forest in the Asian section of the garden.
Views of Lake Maggiore and distant mountains help to create a sense of sanctuary.	Paths, steps, and arched openings lead visitors along as they discover carefully labeled plants.
The tropical greenhouse includes orchids, bromeliad, breadfruit trees, and a variety of palms.	It's not easy to say farewell at the end of the day. Looking back, the islands become dark green boats floating on the lake.