Milan
The highest of the pre-Alpine lakes
Lake Orta, known by the Romans as Lake Cusius, lies to the west of Lake Maggiore enclosed in a circle of hills and mountains. It is the highest of the large pre-Alpine lakes.
A promontory lies on the east shore of the lake with a gentle, peaceful shoreline. Orta San Giulio is the main tourist attraction in the area. The town is characterized by narrow streets that surround the square with its 16th c. Palazzo della Communità and the climb to the Parish church (1485), known as "la Motta" that contains interesting pictorial works of art.
The ancient basilica of San Giulio (12th c.) stands on the small island in front of Orta that can be reached by hiring a rowing boat or by ferry.
The religious complex of Sacro Monte stands on a wooded hill behind Orta. It comprises 20 chapels dedicated to St. Francis and built between 1591 and the 2nd half of the 18th c. They are decorated with frescoes and terracotta statuary from the 17th and 18th centuries. The pictorial and decorative work was worked on by Procaccini, the Fiamminghini family, Giuseppe and Carlo Francesco Nuvolone and Morazzone among others.
Gozzano, with the Romanesque church of San Lorenzo and the oratory of the Madonna di Luzzara with 15th c. frescoes, and the Longobard tower of Buccione, and Ameno, with the park of Villa Monte Oro, the Sanctuary of the Bocciola and the wonderful panoramic view from Monte Mesma, are the other main attractions on this small but pretty lake in Piedmont.
| Neighborhood: | North-west |
| Orta, Novara 28016 |