On October 25, 1219, an arbitration sentence issued by Imperial Vicar Giacomo di Carisio and Archbishop of Milan Enrico I da Settala formally recognized the Bishop of Novara's jurisdiction over the Riviera di San Giulio, cementing the strategic importance of the Castello di Buccione. Built in the third quarter of the 12th century, likely by the counts Da Castello, the fortress stands on a hill on the border between Orta San Giulio and Gozzano at the southeastern edge of Lake Orta, serving as the historical symbol of the Riviera's independence.
What to see
The core of the stronghold is its square central keep, rising 23.20 metres high and constructed from squared stone blocks. The interior is divided into five storeys with timber flooring, topped by a covered crenellated cell. The medieval layout included an inner square curtain wall, a rectangular service building, and an entrance esplanade described by historical sources as a walled courtyard capable of holding 500 men. Excavations carried out in 2005 revealed that the foundations were cut directly into the bedrock using stone blocks identical to the upper masonry, disproving earlier 20th-century theories of Roman or Lombard origins.
At the top of the tower rests the historic bell, added in the 14th or 15th century. Under the statutes of the Riviera di San Giulio, all able-bodied men were required to gather in arms whenever it rang. Though cracked, the bell was sounded on November 4, 1918, to herald the end of the First World War. Moved to the gardens of Villa Bossi in Orta during the Second World War to prevent theft, it was reinstalled atop the keep in 2005 following major restoration works.
Visiting
The castle grounds form part of the Special Nature Reserve of Colle della Torre di Buccione. From its elevated position, the stronghold overlooks the entire expanse of Lake Orta and extends across the Novara plain, offering direct visibility as far as the Church of San Gaudenzio in Novara.
Our editors' tip
Examine the stone masonry of the keep before looking south across the plain; on clear days you can spot the silhouette of San Gaudenzio in Novara, demonstrating the strategic sightlines that made this fortress key to controlling the region.