The aristocratic House of Borromeo were merchants in San Miniato around 1300 and became bankers in Milan after 1370. Vitaliano de' Vitaliani, who acquired the name of Borromeo from his uncle Giovanni, became the count of Arona in 1445. His descendants played important roles in the politics of the Duchy of Milan and as cardinals in the Catholic Reformation. In 1916, the head of the family was granted the title Prince of Angera by the King of Italy.
The Borromeo Palace at Milan
Lake Maggiore, with the Borromean Islands, the majority still owned by the family, although now open to the public.
Castle Rocca di Angera
Palace on Isola Bella
Arona is a town and comune on Lake Maggiore, in the province of Novara. Its main economic activity is tourism, especially from Milan, France and Germany.
Largo Garibaldi in winter. The castle in the background is in Angera.
The famous Sancarlone, a giant statue of St. Charles Borromeo
Train station