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Rocca di AngeraThe Castle or Rocca Borromeo of Angera, an unusual example of a completely preserved medieval fortified building, rises on a spur of calcareous rock that has always dominated the southern part of Lake Maggiore. This imposing construction houses items that bear important witness to local history, which is revisited thanks to the marvelous cycle of frescoes of the "Sala di Giustizia" (Justice Hall) dating from the end of the 13th century. It also has many historical rooms, and includes the Torre Castellana, the top of which affords magnificent panoramic views. Also particularly worthy of mention is the seventeenth century wine press that is housed in the wine-pressing room. Some rooms house the Doll and Children’s Clothes Museum. This is the most important collection of its kind in Europe, and a large section is dedicated to mechanical automatons dating from the nineteenth century, all of which are fully functioning. The spectacular fortress or Rocca, invites the tourist to experience a fascinating encounter with the area’s historical events and its traditions. It is an age-old heritage that is enhanced by the wide expanse of Lake Maggiore, and is crowned by the incomparable beauty of the foothills of the Alps in the foreground, and the Alps behind. The Rocca hosts also the very interesting Museums of Dolls, Children's clothes and Automatons.
"If the tourist wishes to continue along
the road, he will be afforded beautiful views of the castle
and, if he climbs to the small chapel of S. Quirico, from
the top of the hill to the right he will enjoy views of the
castle from above, and of Arona."
The fortress
Today, the spectacular construction is a building with
complex foundations. It closes in to protect the inner court
and is composed essentially, of 5 main bodies, each built in
different periods:
The Viscontea wing
"The castle's internal courtyard is as
beautiful as the external one. From the open gate you can
just glimpse the terrace, and the lake beyond."
The history of the RoccaHistoriography tradition links the adventures of Angera to the Visconti family, who originated from the Verbano region and, in particular to the victory in 1277 of Ottone Visconti over the Della Torre or Torriani. Its strategic position, which favored control of traffic on the lake, made it very important for the entire period of the Middle Ages. Under the Visconti, Angera Fortress was at the center of important reconstruction and extension work that lasted for over a century. During the Ambrosiana Republic (1447-1450), the Consiglio dei Novecento (Council of the Nine hundred) of the city of Milan sanctioned the purchase of the fortress by Vitaliano I Borromeo for the sum of 12,800 Imperial Lire. The fortress thus became the usual place of residence and the symbol of the family's political order. Subsequent years were very conflicting for the fortress and it became the object of contention between the Borromeo and Sforza families. Only in 1449 was the fortress finally returned to the Borromeo family who still own it to this day and, who are responsible for carrying out the main interventions undertaken from the fifteenth century onwards.
"Angera is a dear village. It seems to
have withdrawn itself there at the far end of the lake, as
though on dead ground, so as not to be disturbed. And the
castle watches over it, like a venerable founding father."
How to reach the Rocca by train: Take the Ferrovie dello Stato (National Railways) Milano-Sempione line to the Arona station (about one hour from Milan), then catch a boat to Angera. The lake is served by a number of boat companies offering regular connections to all destinations, including the Navigazione Lago Maggiore and other private companies. Connections between Arona and Angera are very frequent. The visit to the Rocca and the Museum takes about one hour and half. INFO >>> In Angera you can also visit the Municipal Museum of Archeology, with significant remains of ancient archeological findings in Arona. Courtesy in part of www.borromeoturismo.it
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