Babelsberg Palace, Potsdam, Germany

Babelsberg Palace is situated in Babelsberg - a district in Potsdam, the capital of the German state of Brandenburg. The palace was located on the slope of the Babelsberg hill, which overlooked Havel River.

The palace was built as a summer residence for Prince William of Hohenzollern and his spouse, Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. In 1833, the prince was given approval to proceed with the palace by his father, King Frederick William III of Prussia.

Initially the palace was designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel in a Neo-Gothic style. However, Prince William had become the Prussian Crown Prince due to his elder brother, King Frederick Willian IV, not having any children. This resulted in the plans of the palace being extended by Friedrich Ludwig Persius and was finally finished in 1849.

After William’s accession to the Prussian and German throne, he continued to use Babelsberg Palace as a summer residence. On 23 September 1862, he appointed Otto von Bismark as the Minister President of Prussia in Babelsberg Palace.

Babelsberg Palace, Potsdam, Berlin, Germany 

by OldeWorldGifts

Vintage photomechanical print of Babelsberg Palace in Potsdam, Berlin, Germany, which was taken at the end of the 19th century. Photograph courtesy of LOC (LC-DIG-ppmsca-00363). Visit OldeWorldGifts to see the collection of gifts featuring this beautiful old photochrom of Babelsberg Palace.

Isola Bella, Lake Maggiore, Piedmont, Italy

Isola Bella is one of the Borromean Islands in Lake Maggiore in Piedmont, Italy. It is 320 metres long and 400 metres wide and is entirely occupied by the Palazzo Borromeo and its surrounding gardens. The island is situated approximately 400 metres from the town of Stresa.


Prior to 1632 the island, then known as isola di sotto or l'isola inferiore, was a rocky crag with a small fishing village. In 1632, Carlo III of the House of Borromeo began construction of a palace dedicated to his wife, Isabella D'Adda. The island is now named after this Isabella.


The Milanese architect, Angelo Crivelli, was responsible for the construction of the palazzo, as well as the planning of the gardens. The palazzo was not completed due to an outbreak of the plague in the Duchy of Milan around the middle of the century. 


Building of the palace resumed when the islands were passed onto Carlo's sons, Cardinal Gilberto III and Vitaliano VI. The completion of the works were the responsibility of the Milanese architect Carlo Fontana. The completed palace became a place of parties and theatrical events for the nobility of Europe.


Gilberto and Vitaliano left the completion of the gardens to their nephew, Carlo IV, which were inaugurated in 1671. The island continued to be a place to visit for the nobility right through to the middle of the nineteenth century.

Isola Bella III, Lake Maggiore, Piedmont, Italy by OldeWorldGifts

Vintage photomechanical print of Isola Bella, Lake Maggiore in Piedmont, Italy, which was taken towards the end of the 19th century. Photograph courtesy LOC (LC-DIG-ppmsc-06533). Visit OldeWorldGifts to see the full range of products featuring this beautiful vintage print.