The Castles of Cannero Islands - Cannobio - Lake Maggiore

The Castles of Cannero Islands - Cannobio - Lake Maggiore

- Featured in “History” Group – September 9, 2009
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The Castles of Cannero Islands
These spectacular ruins are located on top of two small rocky islands not far from the shore and appear to the surface of the water as for magic.
They are what is left of the castle built between 1519 and 1521 upon the order of Ludovico Borromeo, who named it Rocca Vitaliana in honour of his famous ancestor.
The castle was erected on the remains of an older castle known as Castello della Malpaga, a fortification used as a hideout by the powerful and cruel five Mazzarditi brothers in the 15th century. Between 1403 and 1404, they got hold of the village of Cannobio and started exerting violence and pillages against all neighbouring people.
This situation ended when the Visconti besieged the stronghold and obliged the bandits to surrender by starvation.
The castle was totally destroyed and today there are absolutely no traces of it.
The Rocca Vitaliana was built to defend the Upper Lake Maggiore from Swiss incursions after the Duchy of Milan had lost the Ticino Canton.The main part of it, on the eastern islet, still features the sturdy walls built at water level following the irregular contour of the rock and some keeps of different shapes and still partially with battlements.
On the western islet, you can see a severely damaged keep and some remarkable vestiges of the retaining walls that go on flaking.
It is forbidden to visit the two islets for safety reasons, but they continue to bewitch all those who take a look at them from the shore or the boats with their ancient spell.

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