MILAN - One of Italy's most beautiful lake islands, Isola Madre in Lake Maggiore, was hit by a freak storm on Wednesday night which knocked down a 200-year-old cypress tree, the local tourist board said.
"They are hoping to rescue the Cashmere cypress, probably by using helicopters," a statement from the tourist office said.
Lake Maggiore is located north of Milan in northeast Italy. The island is the largest of the Borromeo group, which includes the famous Isola Bella.
Isola Madre is known for the cypress -- the largest example in Europe with a diameter of 7.8 metres -- and its azalea, rhododendron and camellia plants which grace the botanical gardens.
More than 150 trees were knocked down in the storm, tourist office spokeswoman Sara Giuliani said.
Isola Madre will be shut for this weekend but the tourist office said it hoped the botanical park would be reopened soon. The Borromeo family, which owns the islands, has gone to Isola Madre to assess the damage caused, the tourist board said.