Did Lake Maggiore really have pirates? Legend has it that, at the beginning of the fifteenth century, the Mazzardi brothers from Ronco, known as the Mazzarditi, executed violent raids in towns around the Verbano area.

Were they really cruel bandits and marauders or were they valiant rebels who wanted to free the villages of Cannobio and the upper lake from the Visconti domination?

The truth is that, despite erecting their fortress, the Castelli della Malpaga, on some of the islets between Cannobio and Cannero - which dominated the shores of the lake for about ten years - in 1414, the five brothers were eventually forced to succumb to the army sent by the Duke of Milan, Filippo Maria Visconti.

Their castles were destroyed in the siege but the legends about the so-called pirates’ evil deeds lived on.

About a century later, in 1519, the Borromeo family, who had received the lands of Cannobio from the Visconti, built the Vitaliana fortress on the ruins of the Mazzarditi castles, in memory of the dynasty’s progenitor.

The compelling view of the remains of this fortress that we see rising from the waters today is one of the most iconic images of Lake Maggiore; the stronghold was abandoned in the 18th century and, over time, fell into ruin.

Renovations are underway to restore the Castelli di Cannero to their former glory, as they are still a fascinating place to visit during a boat ride on the lake. On the smaller islet, a statue of the Madonna created by Giannino Castiglioni can be seen.

Another fascinating fact linked to the Castles’ history is that of the strange sightings, similar to those of Loch Ness, which were reported in early 1934 when a collective phobia gripped the local inhabitants, evoking the previous Scottish apparitions in the Thirties. It made the headlines in the local newspapers, and the castles’ aura of mystery helped to create the idea of a mysterious sighting. Then over time, as with most bizarre tales, all traces on the lake monster were lost.

Another legend has it that the Mazzarditi family hastily flung their coffers into the lake so as not to hand them over to the Viscontis. Consequently, it is said that, on misty days, a phantom sailing ship has been glimpsed floating around the castle in search of the ancient sunken treasure.