Orta San Giulio: Day Trip to Lake Orta
Old Town, Isola San Giulio, and Sacro Monte: Lake Maggiore's Quiet Neighbor
Orta San Giulio – Lake Maggiore's Quiet Neighbor
A Small Lake with Its Own Character
If you drive south from Cannobio, you’ll notice how the landscape changes after Omegna. The valleys widen, the towns become smaller, and then Lake Orta appears before you. It is significantly smaller than Lake Maggiore, quieter, and almost a little introverted. The destination of this excursion is Orta San Giulio, located on a peninsula on the eastern shore, directly opposite Isola San Giulio. From Lakeview, it’s about 55 kilometers, a good hour’s drive via Verbania, Gravellona Toce, and Omegna.
Orta San Giulio at a Glance
- Location: East shore of Lake Orta, Piedmont
- Directions from Lakeview: approx. 55 km, a good hour by car via Verbania and Omegna
- Parking: Prarondo and Diania on Via Panoramica, paid
- Highlights: Piazza Motta, Isola San Giulio with Basilica, Sacro Monte (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Market: Wednesdays on Piazza Motta
- Time required: half a day for the town and island, a full day with Sacro Monte
- Suitable for: Couples, families, culture enthusiasts
Arrival: Parking and the Way into Town
Orta’s old town is a pedestrian zone. Therefore, you’ll park above the town on Via Panoramica. The first parking lot along the route is called Prarondo and has about 90 spaces, including for motorhomes. A little further is the underground car park Diania with about 230 spaces, which motorhomes cannot enter. Both are paid, most recently at 2 euros per hour and a maximum of 10 euros per day. In high season, it gets crowded from late morning onwards.
From the parking lots, you can walk down to the town in a few minutes. During the season, a small tourist train also runs, but routes and times vary; it’s best to inquire at the information office. Orta-Miasino train station is about two kilometers above the center. For guests from Cannobio, driving is the easier option.
Piazza Motta and the Old Town Center
The heart of the town is Piazza Motta directly on the water, often called the ‘salon on the lake.’ This is where boats depart for the island, and where you can sit in cafes under the arcades. On the square stands the Palazzo della Comunità from 1582, the old town hall. Below, an open loggia, where a market was once held, opens up, with the council chamber above. A market is still held in Orta today: every Wednesday on Piazza Motta, a tradition that, according to legend, dates back to the 13th century.
From the Piazza, a paved alley leads up to the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta. Along the way, it’s worth looking into the side streets and courtyards. On the outskirts of the town, Villa Crespi stands out with its Moorish-style tower. It was built starting in 1879 for the cotton industrialist Cristoforo Benigno Crespi and is now a hotel with a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Isola San Giulio
The Isola San Giulio is located about 400 meters from the shore and is only about 275 meters long. Boats depart from Piazza Motta, and the crossing takes five to ten minutes. In addition to the small motorboats that shuttle continuously, Navigazione Lago d’Orta also operates from March to October, connecting twelve towns around the lake.
According to legend, Saint Julius arrived around the year 390, crossing the lake on his outstretched cloak, driving snakes and dragons from the island, and founding his hundredth church here. Today’s Basilica San Giulio is Romanesque and dates from the 12th century. Look for the pulpit made of dark green serpentine with symbols of the Evangelists, a centaur, and a griffin. The relics of the saint rest in the crypt.
The circular path around the island is called Via del Silenzio e della Meditazione (Way of Silence and Meditation). Small plaques with thoughts on silence accompany you along the walls of the Benedictine Abbey Mater Ecclesiae, where cloistered nuns have lived since 1973. Please be considerate; prayer truly takes place here.
Sacro Monte di Orta
Above the town, in the forest, lies the Sacro Monte di Orta, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2003. Starting in 1590, twenty chapels were built here, narrating the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. Approximately 370 life-size terracotta figures and over 900 frescoes depict the scenes. The path winds like a spiral through the park, offering continuous views down to Orta and the island.
Admission is free. It is open until 6 PM in summer and 4 PM in winter, with an extra half hour on weekends. From the parking lots on Via Panoramica, it’s only about a ten-minute walk; from the town, the uphill climb is a bit longer. Friedrich Nietzsche himself spent a few hours here in May 1882 with Lou Andreas-Salomé.
What to Eat on Lake Orta
The lake’s specialty is Mortadella d’Orta, a spicy sausage with liver that ripens for several months. It is served as a panino, with polenta, or in Paniscia, a risotto from Piedmont. In the restaurants, you’ll find Piedmontese cuisine with products from the surrounding mountains.
Ideas for More of Lake Orta
If you have more time, drive to the Sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso from 1748. It stands on a rocky spur above the western shore, about 30 minutes from Orta, and offers the most beautiful view over the entire lake. Below it lies Pella with its lakeside promenade, from where boats also cross to Orta. At the northern end of the lake, Omegna beckons with its market on Thursdays and the Forum Museum, which showcases the history of the household goods industry on the lake, from Alessi to Lagostina.
The Mottarone is also not far. However, we would not recommend experiencing both extensively in one day.
With Children, as a Couple, or in the Afternoon
For families, Orta is easily manageable. The boat trip to the island is usually the highlight for children, and the paths are short. However, cobblestones and steps can be challenging with a stroller. Couples will find Orta most beautiful in the late afternoon, when the tour groups have left and peace returns to the Piazza. In June, it’s worth checking the calendar: the Cusiano di Musica Antica festival takes place then, with concerts on the island, among other venues.
How Your Day in Orta Could Look
Depart so that you arrive at the Prarondo parking lot before 10 AM. From there, first go to Sacro Monte while it’s still cool and quiet in the forest. Afterwards, descend through the alleys to Piazza Motta and have lunch there or in one of the side streets. In the early afternoon, cross over to Isola San Giulio and walk around the island. Back on the Piazza, there’s time for a coffee or an aperitivo before you head home. If you come on a Wednesday, you’ll experience the Piazza with its market, but expect more activity.
You can stay with us in a mobile home on Lake Maggiore, in a holiday apartment with a lake view, or on a pitch for your motorhome, caravan, or tent.
Insider tips from locals
To make your trip extra special:
- We recommend not planning too much for Orta. The town is most beautiful when you walk slowly through the alleys and sit by the water.
- For us, the crossing to Isola San Giulio is an absolute must: from the water, you’ll see Orta in a completely different light.
- For those seeking peace and quiet, we recommend Sacro Monte. There, you’ll be away from the hustle and bustle and have a beautiful view of the lake.
- With small children, we recommend an all-terrain stroller or a carrier, as the old town has many cobblestones and steps.
Questions and answers
About 55 kilometers, a good hour by car depending on traffic.