The 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.
"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." (S. Butler, 1882)
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 Main tower (end twelfth
century - beginning of thirteenth century) and town boundary
walls, built perhaps on the remains of a previous tower,
is square based and the summit affords truly amazing
panoramic views, which take in the entire lake, with Arona,
the foothills of the Alps and the Alps crowning a scene of
truly matchless beauty.
The "Scaligera" wing
This small palace, called the "Scaligera" wing, rises
between the inner walls and the remains of an older tower.
The stone construction dates from the first half of the
thirteenth century.
The Viscontea wing
The palace, which backs onto the main tower, is referable to
the work of Ottone Visconti, whose political and military
achievements (such as the victory over the Torriani,
captained by Napo della Torre, in 1277) are celebrated in
admirable fashion in the series of frescoes dating from the
fourteenth or late thirteenth century in the large upper
room, inaccurately named the Sala di Giustizia (Judgment
Room). This series is amongst the most complex that medieval
art has left behind, and it bears witness to the style that
flourished in Lombardy between the thirteenth and fourteenth
centuries.
The Giovanni Visconti tower
(circa 1350)
The tower was built during the archbishopric of Giovanni
Visconti, near the southern extremity of the Viscontea wing.
The Borromeo family wing
The Borromeo family, who became the owners of the Rocca di
Angera in 1449, are responsible for the main interventions
carried out on it after the fifteenth century.
Nowadays, the Rocca Borromeo of Angera houses the Doll and
Children's Clothes Museum, which are part of the Borromeo
collection.
"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." (S. Butler, 1882)
The history of the Rocca
The kitchen
Historiography 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." (A. Greppi, 1950)
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.
Rocca di Angera - Photo © 
The Viscontea wing
The kitchen
