Al 1 reacties bij dit reisverslag

Your first picture of the the small island with the castle and the crane: Brutal vision of a desolate castle in the middle of Lake Maggiore, made up of three rocky islets, it is all that remains of the Rocca Vitaliana fortress built between 1519 and 1521 by Ludovico Borromeo, who gave it this name in honor of an illustrious ancestor. The fortress was built on the ruins of a previous castle, the Castello della Malpaga, which had been used since the 15th century as a refuge by the powerful and cruel Mazzarditi family. These five brothers took control of the Cannobio neighborhood between 1403 and 1404, terrorizing the inhabitants of the district with their acts of violence and piracy. This continued until the Viscontis besieged the fortress, starving the bandits to death. The old castle was razed to the ground, so no trace of it remains. La Rocca Vitaliana was built to defend the upper part of Lake Maggiore from raids by the Swiss after the Duchy of Milan lost control of the Canton of Ticino. The main part of the castle, on the eastern islet, still has its massive walls built directly over the water, following the jagged contours of the rock, and some differently shaped towers that still have part of their battlements. All that remains of the castle on the western islet is a ruined tower and some crumbling parts of the wall. The ruins cannot be visited as they are not safe, but the view from the shore or from a boat is still compelling. The islands' rocky shores are a magnet for adventurous bathers.

Robert 2023-07-14 23:31:53