Angera is a town known in Roman times as Angleria, it was an important lake port and road station. Today its major feature is the Rocca, an imposing castle of very ancient origin.

The castle is a medieval fortification built on a spur of calcareous rock which dominates this area of Lake Maggiore. Thought to have been founded on the site of an earlier Roman fortification, in the Middle Ages the fort passed into the hands of Milan's bishops, the Visconti family. Under the Visconti it was rebuilt and improved upon and increased in size. In 1449 it came into ownerhsip of the Borromeo's family.

The castle has a number of fanmous rooms such as the The "Sala di Giustizia" which has frescoes dating back to the 13th century.

Since 1988 the Rocca Borromeo has been home to the "Museo della Bambola" (The Dolls' Museum). This impressive collection is made up of dolls, toys, books, miniature furniture, board games which, with over 1.000 pieces and is one of the largest in Europe dating back to the 15th century.