In harmony with the landscape

Surrounded by the water of elegant Lake Maggiore, the Borromean Islands have been a favourite holiday destination for Lombardy’s aristocratic families since the 18th century – as evidenced by the historic palaces and well-tended botanical gardens that can still be visited – and are now a popular international tourist destination. Isola dei Pescatori (Fishermen’s Island) is the smallest of the islands that can be visited and undoubtedly the most picturesque with its narrow alleyways and terraced houses once used for drying fish.

In this setting, the Casabella Restaurant is a fine example of the renovation of an existing building which a young couple working in the tourism sector entrusted to the expertise of Arredo Jolly, a local company with offices in Verbania and Locarno, renowned for its extensive experience in interior design.

A short gravel pathway leads from the jetty to the entrance of the restaurant, which faces Isola Bella, immediately transporting guests into a timeless atmosphere. In the dining rooms, spread over two floors, the furnishings, which were carefully chosen by the owners, consist of comfortable seats around the tables (square or round), which echo the blue and white colours that dominate the walls and boiserie, creating a carefully considered sense of aesthetic uniformity. The floor is undoubtedly the most eye-catching feature, which, thanks to the splendid light streaming in from the many windows and terraces, brings the movement and colours of water and lake stones into the rooms. Skilfully applied Grande Marble Look Ghiara Minuta Mix porcelain stoneware slabs (120x120 cm) create a Venetian Terrazzo effect, producing an immediate mental connection with the historic seminato floor of the ancient Palazzo Borromeo on Isola Bella. The same collection is also used for the bathroom floors, masterfully combined with the walls covered with the large marble-effect slabs of the Grande Marble Look collection (120x240 cm), which reproduce the deep green of Aosta Valley Aver marble on stoneware, highlighting the black washbasins and taps. 

The terraces overlooking the lake are always an enticing attraction, whether for lunch or simply to admire the view. The flooring chosen here is the grit-effect stoneware of the cement tiles from the Crogiolo D_Segni Scaglie collection, laid in a chequered pattern which, in two shades of Grey and Anthracite, reproduce the colours of ‘beole’ and ‘serizzi’ – the local stones –, reconnecting with the historical memory of the area.


Photo credits: Guido Cavallini