Isola San Giulio
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 15 January 2024
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The picturesque lake island of Isola San Giulio is situated on Lake Orta, facing the equally scenic town of Orta San Giulio.
The island can be reached via the Lake Orta ferry service from a number of towns and villages around the lake. Centrepiece of the island is the Basilica di San Giulio but there are also places to eat and drink while exploring its quiet and narrow alleyways. |
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The island of dragons
The island gets its name from a rather surprising legend, and you would think legend is the perfect way of describing the story's veracity. For any of you that believe in dragons, please look away now as what I'm about to say may cause offence.
The Giulio part of the island's name refers to a certain Julius, who in 390 AD, rid the hitherto unapproachable island of dragons with his courage and guile. As always happens when you defeat dragons, you earn a sainthood and so we have San Giulio.
Thanks to the efforts of our beloved saint, the island which measures just 275 x 140 metres, is perfectly safe and you're highly unlikely to be toasted alive by any passing wildlife.
The main sight on the island is the aforementioned Basilica and its accompanying Romanesque bell tower. A single street, Via Basilica connects the remaining landmarks on the island which include a convent, a restaurant and a shop. The time spent to have a mooch around the Basilica and explore the rest of the island will be surprisingly brief and you may find yourself returning to the mainland within the hour.
The Giulio part of the island's name refers to a certain Julius, who in 390 AD, rid the hitherto unapproachable island of dragons with his courage and guile. As always happens when you defeat dragons, you earn a sainthood and so we have San Giulio.
Thanks to the efforts of our beloved saint, the island which measures just 275 x 140 metres, is perfectly safe and you're highly unlikely to be toasted alive by any passing wildlife.
The main sight on the island is the aforementioned Basilica and its accompanying Romanesque bell tower. A single street, Via Basilica connects the remaining landmarks on the island which include a convent, a restaurant and a shop. The time spent to have a mooch around the Basilica and explore the rest of the island will be surprisingly brief and you may find yourself returning to the mainland within the hour.
Ferry access
At the southern tip of the island is the ferry dock which provides access to and from the towns around the lake: notably Orta San Giulio, Pella and Omegna. The ferries are the cheapest option, costing between €2 and €3 each way, depending on where you board.
It's also possible to take a water taxi from Orta San Giulio; they don't work to a timetable, it's just a case of waiting until they have enough passengers before they head across. The water taxis cost a little bit more but hardly enough to make a difference.
What the island lacks in sights, it more than makes up for in aesthetic beauty. It's the centrepiece of Lake Orta which really merits a visit in its own right. It's just a short distance west of the huge Lake Maggiore which, with its fame and extra size attracts a far greater number of tourists. This is the beauty of Lake Orta: it's off the beaten path to a certain degree and in many ways more attractive than its illustrious neighbour.
It's also possible to take a water taxi from Orta San Giulio; they don't work to a timetable, it's just a case of waiting until they have enough passengers before they head across. The water taxis cost a little bit more but hardly enough to make a difference.
What the island lacks in sights, it more than makes up for in aesthetic beauty. It's the centrepiece of Lake Orta which really merits a visit in its own right. It's just a short distance west of the huge Lake Maggiore which, with its fame and extra size attracts a far greater number of tourists. This is the beauty of Lake Orta: it's off the beaten path to a certain degree and in many ways more attractive than its illustrious neighbour.
Exploring Lake Orta and beyond
The signature town on the lake is Orta San Giulio which is one of the Piedmont region's crown jewels; the beautiful medieval town has much to explore and is a favourite base for visitors to the lake.
On the hill overlooking Orta San Giulio is the Sacro Monte di Orta, a religious sanctuary, which along with eight other sites in Lombardy and Piedmont, makes up a UNESCO World Heritage listing (Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy). From the Sanctuary, the views down to the lake and to Isola San Giulio are breathtaking.
From this elevated position you can see across the lake to the village of Pella but it's a place you have to get up close and personal with to really appreciate its azure water and selection of lakeside eateries.
Whilst in Pella it's worth the extra effort to explore the tiny hamlet of Ronco Marina as well. At the top (north) end of the lake is another beautiful town called Omegna which is actually in a different province (Verbano Cusio Ossola) to the locations in the southern half of the lake which belong to Novara Province.
On the hill overlooking Orta San Giulio is the Sacro Monte di Orta, a religious sanctuary, which along with eight other sites in Lombardy and Piedmont, makes up a UNESCO World Heritage listing (Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy). From the Sanctuary, the views down to the lake and to Isola San Giulio are breathtaking.
From this elevated position you can see across the lake to the village of Pella but it's a place you have to get up close and personal with to really appreciate its azure water and selection of lakeside eateries.
Whilst in Pella it's worth the extra effort to explore the tiny hamlet of Ronco Marina as well. At the top (north) end of the lake is another beautiful town called Omegna which is actually in a different province (Verbano Cusio Ossola) to the locations in the southern half of the lake which belong to Novara Province.
Isola San Giulio
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Location: Lake Orta
Comune: Orta San Giulio Province: Novara Region: Piedmont Close by: Sacro Monte di Orta, Omegna, Pella, Alzo, Ronco Marina Recommended stay: Hotel La Bussola (Orta San Giulio) |
