Orta San Giulio is considered one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, awarded the Touring Club Italiano’s Orange Flag: a gem overlooking Lake Orta, opposite the evocative Island of San Giulio.
The centre of the Riviera d’Orta
Orta has always been the main centre of the Comunità della Riviera, an autonomous consortium of municipalities that existed from the Middle Ages until the mid-eighteenth century: a role that has left its mark on its elegant historic centre, with its squares, lanes and period buildings.
The Sacro Monte, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Above the village stands the Sacro Monte of Orta, a devotional complex that is part of the Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy, included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Sacro Monte consists of twenty chapels, built between 1591 and the eighteenth century, decorated with life-size terracotta sculptures and frescoes that recount the life of Saint Francis in Mannerist and Baroque style.
The Island of San Giulio
Opposite the village lies the Island of San Giulio, with its ancient basilica and the Mater Ecclesiae enclosed Benedictine monastery, where Benedictine nuns still live today. A place of solemn tranquillity, it can be reached in just a few minutes by boat from Orta’s lakeside promenade.
Orta San Giulio and the Ossola area
Orta is a short distance from Omegna, another village overlooking Lake Orta. For more information on the history of and visits to the Sacro Monte, the reference point is the Lake District Tourist Board.
From Orta, it is also possible to reach the inland area of Val d’Ossola, with its vineyards: an opportunity for a wine tasting away from the lake.
An open-air museum
Walking through the streets of Orta San Giulio, among frescoed palaces and small artisan shops, gives the feeling of moving through an open-air museum: every view, from the main square to the lanes descending towards the lake, seems designed to be photographed, making the village a favourite destination for painters and artists seeking inspiration.
A natural setting for cinema and art
Thanks to its scenic beauty, Orta San Giulio has repeatedly been chosen as a setting for film productions and photo shoots: the combination of the historic centre, the lake and the island creates a natural backdrop that is difficult to replicate elsewhere, continuing to attract not only tourists but also image professionals.
A balance to preserve
The large influx of tourists that characterises Orta San Giulio, especially during the summer months, presents the local administration with the challenge of preserving the village’s authenticity and liveability for residents, an issue common to many particularly photogenic destinations loved by visitors from around the world.
One final consideration: the low season, particularly autumn, makes it possible to enjoy Orta San Giulio in much greater tranquillity, without sacrificing the charm that makes this village unique.
A living painting overlooking Lake Orta.
A living painting overlooking the waters of its lake.
One final consideration about Orta San Giulio: its international fame has not compromised its authenticity, a rare balance among Italy’s most photographed destinations.
A living painting overlooking the waters of its lake.
A living painting overlooking its lake.
Orta San Giulio, with its historic centre gathered around the lake and the nearby Island of San Giulio, remains one of the most evocative destinations in Piedmont’s lake district, offering photogenic views at every turn along its cobbled streets. Not far from here, heading up towards Ossola, the landscape gradually changes, making way for vineyards and mountain villages, on an itinerary that seamlessly brings together lake and Alps.
Orta San Giulio’s lakeside promenade, with its cafés and historic shops, remains one of the most pleasant places for an evening stroll.
