Isola Madre

The author, Adele Buratti Mazzotta, recounts the story of Isola Madre based on a careful analysis of archival documents, which are thoroughly examined here for the first time. A former professor of Architectural Drawing and Surveying in the civil engineering program of the Milan Polytechnic's Architecture faculty, Adele Buratti Mazzotta conducted the scrupulous research that led to publication of this fascinating book. Documented as early as 846, by 1441 the island was included in the feudal estate that the Visconti handed over to the house of Borromeo, which acquired it in 1501 to create a place for leisure and vacationing. By the end of the century, a Palace was erected, surrounded by espalier citrus gardens that characterized the island until the late 18th century. At that time, the garden's appearance was modified to reflect the English romantic style, with winding paths full of visual perspectives. New species of plants from far-off places and climates adapted to the island's microclimate, which still today offers visitors original curiosities. All proceeds from sales of the book will go to AIRC, the Italian Association for Cancer Research. Less