Castles, towers and walls: ancient views of lakes and mountains

In past centuries, some places were chosen for their strategic positions as sites for castles, towers and walls to defend the territory. Today, those same places provide extraordinary scenic value, offering a contemporary view of the landscape between lakes and mountains.
Following towers and castles, the traveller, in 'slow' and 'green' mode, alone or in company, can move between the lakes Maggiore, Mergozzo and d'Orta, up to the foothills of the Alps with the Ossola, to discover history, but also nature and landscape. Many of these testimonies can be reached by walks through forests and heights that offer breathtaking views or are located along historical routes towards the Alpine passes.
Exploring these fortresses means discovering the deep roots of places that have seen centuries of history pass by, offering authentic and evocative experiences, sometimes in environments protected by Nature Reserves, such as the Mattarella Pass at Domodossola or the Buccione Pass at Orta San Giulio, more often going off the beaten tourist track and reaching unusual locations that are worth discovering.

Welcome to a place where time does not pass but is renewed: from the ancient view defending the territory to the contemporary view of pure contemplation!  Here is our proposal related to the theme of castles:

CASTELLO DEL MOTTO / Castrum Gravallone (Gravellona Toce)- Archaeology of a thousand-year-old fortification
CASTELLI DI CANNERO (Cannobio) - In the heart of the lake: an ancient fortress and a new multimedia museum
ROCCA BORROMEA (Arona) - The lake-view castle that was the birthplace of St Charles Borromeo
VILLAGGIO FORTIFICATO DI CARMINE SUPERIORE (Cannobio) - Fortified village with panoramic views between lake and mountains
CASTELLO DI MATTARELLA (Domodossola) - A bastion of history and spirituality
CASTELLO VISCONTEO E ROCCA (Vogogna) - A stroll through the Middle Ages in one of Italy's most beautiful villages 
SBARRAMENTO DEL PASSO DI CROVEO (Baceno) - The ducal wall defending the Alpine passes
TORRETTA MEDIEVALE E ANTICHE MURA (Domodossola) - The walls embracing the ancient village, capital of the Ossola
TORRE DI BUCCIONE (Orta San Giulio) - Symbol of the proud independence of Riviera di San Giulio
PALAZZO PARASI E TORRE CIVICA (Cannobio) - Where the Middle Ages meet contemporary art
TORRE DI FERIOLO (Baveno) - The tower overlooking granite quarries
CASA FORTE SCHTEI HÜS (Formazza) - A strong house at high altitude to recount centuries of links with Walser culture  
TORRE DI BATTIGGIO (Vanzone con San Carlo) - A bastion on the gold route
TORRE DI VARZO (Varzo) - A tall tower to guard trade traffic towards Simplon
TORRE DI ROLDO (Montecrestese) - The Gallic temple that became a tower
TORRE FERRERIO (Piedimulera) - The Renaissance tower celebrating iron merchants 

In the early Middle Ages, alongside and perhaps even before the hills, fortified structures were built on lake islands, geographical environments made safe and isolated by their location. In most cases, however, subsequent events led to the demolition of castle architecture, and today our islands are known for a completely different type of palace. Speaking of castles, we offer a brief overview of these vanished castles by CLICKING HERE.