Angera

The first attraction that jumps out at you is the Rocca Borromeo, perched on the hill, proudly dominating the landscape and offering stunning scenery to those who decide to tackle the steep climb. Built by the noble Visconti family during the 14th century, it is surrounded by wonderful gardens, which cover about 2,000 square meters. Currently the fortress is also home to the fascinating Museo della Bambola de del Giocattolo, with more than a thousand pieces from all over Europe, including some mechanical automatons from the 18th century.

Moving into the center of the medieval village, the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta, made of the characteristic Angera stone, stands out, standing on the site of an early Christian necropolis. The present building dates from the 16th century, while the interior decorations date from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Although it is in the province of Varese, the capital is not very close to Angera: a good forty minutes by car separate the two towns. Nevertheless, the town is worth a visit if you are in the area. In addition to being a beautiful city of art, with a historic center full of porticoed and cobblestone streets, it is also called the "Garden City," thanks to its beautiful gardens and villas. Examples include Villa Mirabello, within the Estensi Gardens, which houses the Archaeological Museum, and Villa Menafoglio, on the Biumo Superiore hill, which houses the Panza Collection of contemporary art.

Just outside the center is Sacro Monte, a UNESCO site: it is a sacred way about two kilometers long along which 14 chapels stand; walking along it, one reaches the top of the mountain, where the Borgo di Santa Maria del Monte is located, with a sanctuary and the monastery of the Romite Ambrosiane.

On the way to Varese, you can also make a stop at the lake of the same name, with its characteristic shoe shape. It is a renowned rowing spot that is also home to a small island, Isolino Virginia, which can be reached from the town of Biandronno.

Closer to Angera, although located in Piedmont, is Arona. This small town overlooks the opposite shore of Lake Maggiore, almost opposite Angera. For this reason, it is an excellent spot to admire the Rock of Angera in all its glory. In addition to this, in turn, Arona has a very atmospheric medieval-minded historic center, a fortress that stands on the site of a pre-Roman fortification, and a pedestrian-friendly lakefront full of green areas and playgrounds.

There are two step-by-step itineraries that run through the municipality of Angera. The first is one of the Sentieri Smeraldo, a network of trails being created in Lombardy, Engadine and Upper Ticino by WWF, with the aim of enhancing these areas. In this case, it is the Ticino-Lombardy Emerald Trail, and in particular stage 20, which runs from Sesto Calende to Angera itself.

The second is the tour of Lake Maggiore. The program for the thirteenth day of this trail starts from Sesto Calende and arrives in the municipality of Laveno-Mombello, passing right through Angera.

For cycling enthusiasts, we recommend a route of about 36 km that runs from Ispra to Sesto Calende, either skirting the lake or plunging into the hilly hinterland.

The more well-trained equipped with a road bike can take the Lake Maggiore tour, a route of more than 160 km between Switzerland and Italy that allows you to pedal almost always parallel to the lake, offering wonderful views.