Rocca Borromea of Angera
The Rocca Borromea of Angera, framed between the Lombard Prealps, dominates the southern end of the Lombard shore of Lake Maggiore.
This ancient pearl that rises majestically on a spur of limestone overlooking the whole village of Angera, the surrounding areas and a portion of the lake is definitely one of the places of interest of Lake Maggiore to visit at least once in a lifetime.
The Rocca Borromea of Angera is located in a strategic position for the needs and use for which it was built. It was first owned by the Visconti family, originally from Verbano as a stronghold for the dominion on the merchant traffic in the area then in 1449 it was bought by the Borromeo, to which it still belongs today.
The Rocca of Angera can be visited inside along a path that leads to the discovery of the Historical Rooms, embellished with frescoes, paintings and original decorations enhanced thanks to recent restoration works.
Here you can breathe a typical medieval air and you are clearly catapulted at the time of ladies and knights: a truly unique emotion, embellished by the wonderful view of Lake Maggiore that you can enjoy from the panoramic terraces present.
But the peculiarity of the Rocca di Angera lies in the fact that it houses the Doll and Toy Museum which is the largest and most important in Europe of this kind. It is loved not only by adults but, considering the theme of the museum, even by children. In fact, it traces the history of the toy from the eighteenth century to the present day through the evolution of materials, socio-educational behaviors and links with art, costume and fashion: it is something completely different than playstation or pokemon!
You will find on display over a thousand dolls made in the characteristic materials belonging to the ancient tradition such as wood, wax, fabric, papier-mâché or porcelain dressed and equipped with accessories and miniatures accompanied by toys of various types, domestic accessories, models of furniture and dollhouses fully furnished.
The Doll and Toy Museum was founded in 1988 by Princess Bona Borromeo Arese.
The Rocca of Angera is easily accessible by car and offers tourists a large car park at its entrance. In the Rocca it is available an interesting guided tour service bookable (for free).
To frame the exterior of the Fortress there is the refined Medieval Garden, rich in symbolic meanings and made following careful studies of codes, vintage images and documents that led to the realization in the large esplanade overlooking Lake Maggiore of the three main types of gardens: the Garden of the Princes, the Verziere and the Garden of Small Herbs.
Behind the ancient church of the Rocca of Angera have already been planted flowers, plants and shrubby species described by the ancient masters and cultivated according to precise rules and geometries. The intent was to recreate on earth the idea of the "lost paradise".
In this wonderful location on August 1st 2015 was held the wedding reception between Beatrice Borromeo and Pierre Casiraghi: a refined and unique location that for the occasion has dressed up to host many V.I.P come from all over the world.
