Terre Borromeo at work for the new 2026 season

With the closure of Terre Borromeo’s museum sites and gardens, the usual phase of maintenance and renewal begins, ahead of the reopening scheduled for 12 March 2026. This is a crucial period of preparation aimed at restoring every detail to its full splendour and welcoming visitors with an experience that is increasingly refined and engaging.

Each site, from Isola Bella to Isola Madre, from the Rocca di Angera to Parco Pallavicino, all the way to the Castles of Cannero, undergoes meticulous conservation work during the winter months. The goal is to best preserve the historical, artistic, and natural heritage safeguarded within the palaces and gardens overlooking Lake Maggiore.

Like a behind-the-scenes journey, we start with the gardens. At this time of year, the plants that in summer display lush foliage and spectacular blooms are moved into the greenhouses, sheltered from the cold temperatures. Around those that cannot be moved—due to their size, for example—small protective structures are built. Gardeners also devote themselves to the propagation of species through cuttings, ensuring continuity of the botanical heritage. Alongside these tasks, regular maintenance work is carried out, such as pruning, and spaces are redesigned for the planting of botanical collections.

Inside the palaces of Isola Bella, Isola Madre and the Rocca di Angera—where environmental and humidity conditions require special care—the technical staff works to assess the condition of the artworks and intervene on those most affected by visitor traffic. Operations include dusting paintings and frames, cleaning chandeliers, stripping and rewaxing floors, and conditioning leather on furniture and furnishings. There are also micro-aspiration treatments for musical instruments, textiles, and other displayed objects. These activities are completed by photographic documentation and updates to the cataloguing of the collections.

Some more specific interventions alternate from year to year. In December, for example, attention focuses on the Berthier Gallery and the Tapestry Gallery in Palazzo Borromeo on Isola Bella, where over 200 paintings undergo inspection and dusting. Nails and hangers are also checked to ensure stability.

Finally, the staff of Terre Borromeo is constantly engaged in the development of innovative services, the reorganisation of retail areas, and research within the historical archives of the Borromeo family for works or memorabilia to be exhibited to the public for the first time. While work continues tirelessly, spring will soon arrive, and visitors will be able to admire the new features and the results of the efforts made in these months.