가티코‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪5‬개의 동굴

The castle is located in the center of the village, on a hill overlooking the valley below and part of the town. The presence of a castle or "castrum" is mentioned as early as 1191, but the construction of the current fortress appears to date between 1454-1464 and 1489, that is, between the reign of Filippo Borromeo and that of his sons, Giovanni and Vitaliano. It is known with certainty that in 1493 the building and its grounds were inherited by Ludovico Visconti Borromeo. The old square fortress, on the northern side, features the elegant and solid forms of the original fifteenth-century structure, with beautiful pointed-arch windows softened by terracotta decorations. The castle's current appearance is the result of various renovations over the centuries, the most significant dating back to the eighteenth century. The new reconstruction was commissioned by Giulio Visconti Borromeo Arese.

Spectacular view of the city of Arona and Lake Maggiore

Once you arrive in Arona, walk along the lakeside and have an ice cream, go up to visit the statue of S. Carlone but... don't forget to visit the Rocca too! Founded in a period shortly before the year 1000 under the control of the Lombards, for four centuries the Rocca remained in the hands of the Borromeo family, giving birth to Cardinal San Carlo Borromeo in 1538; the history of the Rocca di Arona ends in 1800 when the Napoleonic army received the order to destroy some fortifications occupied by the Austrians; from that moment on only a few ruins of the Rocca di Arona remain. From above you can also enjoy a spectacular view of Arona below, of Angera opposite and of this entire stretch of lake!

The hamlet of Lortallo was a very pleasant surprise for me. Leaving Ameno, I was attracted by the sight of the mighty tower, which I later discovered was built in the 13th century. It is in excellent condition. Next to the tower, there is the Church of San Grato, which dates back to the 18th century (the bell tower is dated 1758). To the side of the tower and the church (which unfortunately I found closed and which is rarely open), closing the pretty little square, there is one of the entrances to Palazzo Decio, which I could only see from the outside because it is privately owned. However, the palace is used as a location for weddings and other celebrations, so online it is possible to see the interior, which develops around a large garden with a splendid view of Lake Orta. But the surprises offered by Lortallo do not stop there. In fact, I read that archaeological research conducted in Lortallo between 1915 and 1938, brought to light one of the most important necropolises of the early First Iron Age. The necropolis complex features tombs dating from the 9th to the 5th century BC and the findings can be placed within the Golasecca Culture, a common expression of various Celtic tribal groups that lived in the early Iron Age in western Lombardy, the Novara area and the Canton of Ticino. In short, it seems that Lortallo has been inhabited since the dawn of time.

Still very well preserved - great panoramic view

on sunny days, excellent view of Lake Orta

Perfect for a picnic

From the town, a somewhat steep footpath leads upwards. It is marked at the entrance with a red Rocco sign. At the top, in La Corte della Rocchetta, there is the opportunity to eat and drink.