Villas

NOTES: Palazzo Borromeo was commissioned by Carlo III in 1632 and dedicated to his wife Isabella D'Adda, from whom the island takes its name. Construction of the house and design of its gardens was entrusted to Angelo Crivelli and completed by Carlo Fontana. The gardens were inaugurated in 1671.

NOTES: Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington and 4th Earl of Cork, refronted the existing Chiswick House and designed and built the adjoining villa to display his art collection and entertain friends in 1727-1729. He was inspired on his grand tour by Palladio's Villa Capra 'La Rotonda' near Vicenza.

NOTES: Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola designed the villa and the gardens while Tommaso Chiruchi of Siena was the specialist in hydraulics who engineered all the water features.

NOTES: Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola designed the villa and the gardens while Tommaso Chiruchi of Siena was the specialist in hydraulics who engineered all the water features.

NOTES: The gallery and upper floors were reached by five spiral staircases around the courtyard: the most important of these is the Scala Regia (Royal Stairs) rising through the three floors, frescoed by Antonio Tempesta.