Medieval pirate fortresses on Lake Maggiore

The Castelli di Cannero are three rocky islets located off the shoreline of Cannero Riviera in Italy, administratively part of the Comune of Cannobio. Known as castelli, or castles, they are the ruins of the Rocca Vitaliana fortress, built over the remains of an earlier castle, the Castello della Malpaga, used as a refuge by the Mazzarditi family.

The five Mazzarditi brothers were notorious for their acts of violence and piracy, terrorizing the district between 1403 and 1404. This ended when the Viscontis laid siege to the fortress, starving the bandits into surrender. The old castle was destroyed, leaving no trace of it. The Rocca Vitaliana was then built to protect the upper part of Lake Maggiore from incursions by the Swiss.

Only the main part of the castle remains on the eastern islet, with its massive walls built along the water, following the rock's irregular contours. Some towers remain, although some are only in fragments. The western islet has only a ruins tower and crumbling parts of the wall left. These cannot be visited due to safety concerns, but the view of them from the shore or a boat is compelling. The Castelli di Cannero's rocky shores attract adventurous swimmers.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons