Borromeo

Borromeo is a surname of Italian origin and is associated with a historic noble family originating around Lake Maggiore. The term is linked to several notable people, places, and to a set of architectural and botanical properties on the lake known as the Borromean Islands.

The House of Borromeo (Casa Borromeo) rose to prominence in Lombardy from the 15th century onward, centered in the town of Arona on Lake Maggiore and later Milan. Members held high ecclesiastical and political offices and built or acquired estates, palaces, and gardens around the region.

Carlo Borromeo (1538–1584), known as Saint Charles Borromeo, was an Italian cardinal and Archbishop of Milan during the Counter-Reformation. He played a leading role in implementing the Council of Trent's reforms, supported seminaries, and promoted church discipline. He was canonized in 1610 and is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church.

In topology, the Borromean rings are a set of three closed loops linked in such a way that the entire link is nontrivial, but removing any one loop unlinks the remaining two. The name derives from the Borromeo family, whose coat of arms features three interlocked rings.

The Borromean Islands (Isole Borromee) are three islands on Lake Maggiore near Stresa, Italy: Isola Madre, Isola Bella, and Isola dei Pescatori. They have long been owned by the Borromeo family and are notable for historic palaces and extensive gardens. The islands are a popular tourist destination and are connected by boat services.