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The
contruction works started in 1632 thanks to Carlo III Borromeo, entrusting the project to the Milanese engineer Angelo Crivelli.
He was assisted by other professionals such as Pier Antonio Barca and Francesco Maria Ricchino,
but work was temporarily halted by a serious epidemic that broke out in the Duchy of Milano in the
middle of the century. Carlo's son, Vitaliano VI, resumed work and construction of the palazzo was nearly
brought to completion in 1670.  However much of the magnificent building was not finished for decades and
even centuries: for example the decoration in the main hall was only realized in the second half of this
century by Vitiliano IX while the monumental dock planned for the north side of the palazzo was never constructed.
Access was guaranteed instead by a small  port located elsewhere.
Even though the building of the palazzo took place over centuries the complex on Isola Bella
(including the splendid Italian gardens) presents a coherent, harmonious whole, inspired by a
single unique vision: that of conferring on the island the appearance of a ship anchored on the lake.
The baroque palazzo was built on the northwest point of the island and has an imposing facade about
80 metres in length, dominated by the protruding bay of the great reception hall. Perpendicular to this
front the four-storey palazzo continues towards the center of the island in the form of a T . The ground
floor is reached through an  arcaded portico. The most important rooms are found on the first floor, reached
by climbing an impressive staircase, and are positioned around the great two-storey domed hall, known as
the "Salone delle Feste" (Parties Hall), which was used for the reception and entertainment of honoured guests. Its decoration,
based on original designs, was completed only recently, between 1948 and 1959. Just off the hall is the neo-classical
ballroom, also called the "Sala delle Colonne" (Columns Room), the music room with its collection of precious musical instruments,
and the "Sala delle Medaglie" (Medallions Room) where ten  medallions of gilded wood on the ceiling represent the most
significant events in the life of San Carlo Borromeo. Also on this floor is the tapestry gallery with its collection
of six precious 16th-century Flemish tapestries and a vaulted ceiling decorated with gold rosettes on a white
background. There was originally a theatre on the premises as well which was used to entertain the family
and guests with comedies and dramatic representations. It was later destroyed. Also interesting are the
artificial grottoes (reached via a 17th-century spiral staircase) decorated with underwater scenes of marine flora and fauna.
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