Castelli di Cannero: Museum Island on Lake Maggiore

Castles in the Middle of the Lake

Rising from the water like something from another time: the Castelli di Cannero, two small islands with medieval ruins set against the backdrop of Cannero Riviera in Piedmont, just a few kilometers from Cannobio. They were known primarily to boaters as a picturesque anchorage between Cannobio and Cannero Riviera. The smaller neighboring island serves adventurous boaters as a platform for jumping into the water. And almost everyone who has seen them in recent years knows them with a large crane in the middle. For a long time they were mysterious silhouettes on the lake, but now they are finally accessible: On June 28, 2025, the historic castles opened as a multimedia museum after extensive restoration.

A look back: pirates, defenders and the Rocca Vitaliana

The history of the castles reaches far back into the Middle Ages. The islands experienced their darkest period in the early 15th century, when the notorious Mazzardi brothers made the fortress the base for their raids. It was not until 1414 that the troops of the Duke of Milan succeeded in driving out the pirates and destroying the castle.

Between 1519 and 1521, Ludovico Borromeo had a new fortress built: the Rocca Vitaliana, named after one of his ancestors. It served as a defense against attacks from the north, especially from the Swiss Confederates, who had conquered Ticino at that time. Over the centuries the fortress fell into disrepair, until it finally stood as a romantic ruin in Lake Maggiore.