Terrence Thompson's Photography

Construction on Palazzo Borromeo started in 1631when Count Carlo Borromeo decided to build a garden in the shape of a ship as a gift for his wife. The garden rose upward through 10 terraces to represent ship decks. It even includes a poop deck at the rear of the garden (see below). By 1659 the palace had been enlarged to take on the general appearance it has today. However, the palace wasn't fully completed until the mid-20th century using design plans hundreds of years old.