Borromeo Castle: A Medieval Architectural Masterpiece

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we visit one of the few preserved fortified medieval castles.

Borromeo Castle’s growth can be traced to its various hillside sections. At the top of the hill is the original fortified lookout tower and the Visconti Wing, followed by the western end of the small palazzo and the Visconti Tower. The half-acre medieval garden, overlooking the lake and enclosed within the vineyard, was recreated in 2008 and includes authentic and medicinal plants and aromatic herbs from the time period. Stefano Ember/Shutterstock

The Borromeo castle, also known as Rocca di Angera, sits on a rocky cliff overlooking the town of Angera in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. With panoramic views of Lake Maggiore and the Alps, the fortified castle was strategically located to defend itself against the incursions of Swiss and Imperial (Byzantine) troops. It is one of the best-preserved masterpieces of Italian medieval architecture.

Initially, the castle belonged to the Milanese archbishop; then it passed to the Viscontis of Milan, and later to the Borromeos, who still own it today. The castle comprises five buildings, which were built at different times between the 11th and 17th centuries. The five bodies of the castle—the castle tower (the original fortified lookout tower), the Scaligera Wing, the Visconti Wing, the Giovanni Visconti Tower, and the Borromei Wing—enclose an internal courtyard. These buildings retain their unique and iconic features.