The Brissago Islands

• Attraction type: Scenic trip, By boat;
  Natural site, Lake
• Escort: independent (no guide)
• Region: Lake Maggiore (Ticino)
• Duration: 1 day or less

What are the Brissago Islands?

The Brissago Islands (Isole di Brissago) are two tiny islands in Lake Maggiore. San Pancrazio, the larger island, is open to the public and offers a botanical garden, to be visited from April to November. This "large" island is just over 300 m (1000 ft) long. Sant' Apollinare, the smaller one, is mostly left in its natural state and is not accessible to the general public.

The islands are located in the warm Lake Maggiore and are protected from cold air by the mountain ranges. Even in winter the climate is relatively warm here, so it's a very good place to grow plants from humid subtropical regions around the world.

The canton of Ticino and nearby towns own the islands since 1949. They were opened to the public in 1959. Before that, the islands were privately owned since 1885. There was a church in the 11th century, but only the ruins are left.

Activities at the large island

• The botanical gardens feature 1,700 different plants from all over the world, including the "nearby" Mediterranean.
• It's a pleasure to stroll around and enjoy the views of the gardens, the lake and the surrounding mountains. There is about 1 km of paths to reach all corners of the island.
• You can join guided tours.
• There's a treasure hunt map for children.
• There's a small hotel with a restaurant and a terrace.

Preparation

Even though weather is often very good in this area, we recommend to check the weather forecast to see if there won't be rain. It can be windy on the boat and the islands. Dressing in multiple thinner layers allows you to adapt quickly. Comfortable shoes are recommended.

Allow at least two hours to explore the island. This does not include the time to get there.