Story
The Brissago lslands, that are formed by Isola Grande (San Pancrazio) and Isola Piccola (Sant'Apollinare), are located in the Swiss part of Lake Maggiore, and represent a natural, historical and landscape heritage of inestimable value.
In 1885 they were purchased by Baroness Antoinette de St. Léger, who inhabited Isola Grande, and transformed the land into a garden characterized by exotic colours, that soon became a place for cultural meetings. After just over forty years, the noblewoman was forced to sell the property to Max Emden - a businessman from Hamburg - who built a new sumptuous palace. In 1949, the lslands were purchased by Canton Ticino, three neighbouring municipalities, and two landscape and nature conservation organizations which approved the opening of the Botanical garden to the public. Since 2020, the lslands are entirely owned by Canton Ticino, in order to further safeguard and enhance such a unique heritage. On the Isola Grande is located the Botanical Garden of the Canton Ticino, which in just 2.5 hectares houses over 2000 plant species from subtropical climates. Here we find, side by side, species from the Mediterranean basin, the Cape region of South Africa, the Californian coast Australia, the central zone of Chile, and Southeast Asia.
Guided tours for the general public, educational activities for schools, and the treasure hunt for young children offer you the chance to discover the wonders of the Garden; while the hotel and restaurant of Villa Emden allow visitors to enjoy a unique experience and relax surrounded by the colours and scents of the Garden.
