Dreamy Lake Orta Private Day Tours with a Local Guide

Lake Orta is a truly fascinating corner of Italy, a little gem hidden in Piedmont. Located to the west of celebrated lake Maggiore, this lovely lake enchants visitors with its harmonious combination of shimmering waters and natural landscape that look like an oil painting. The main town is Omegna, located at the northen end of the lake. Other nice villages are Pettenasco and Pella.

Queen of lake Orta is the medieval village of Orta San Giulio, a splendid jewel surrounded by a magical atmosphere. Not far from the main road passing outside the village, near an incredible moorish-style villa, a lovely promenade leads down to the centre of the village offering the first beautiful perspectives of the lake. The view gets even more evocative when the outline of the quiet Island of San Giulio appears off the coast of Orta.

Image cobblestone lanes and old stone archways, elegant villas and frescoed palaces, nice cafés and picturesque corners, old-fascioned outdoor staircases and stone houses...this is the old-time feel village of Orta San Giulio. The legendary island of Saint Jules lies in the calm waters of the lake and it is only a short boat ride away. The Island is an out-of-this-world place. It houses a beautiful Romanesque church all decorated with superb frescoes which was built in the 12th century. The Island is named after San Giulio - St. Jules -  who was originally from Greece and, according to legend, arrived at the island in the 4th century where he built his hundredth Church. Another impressive building on San Giulio's Island is the Abbey Mater Ecclesiae, the home of many cloistered nuns. This mystical isle is studded with elegant villas and a nice path allows visitors to enjoy a circular stroll around this enchanting corner of the Italian lakes.

The Sacro Monte of Saint Francis - Holy Mount - is a Unesco site as well as a protected area. Being located on top of the promontory of Orta San Giulio, this sacred site offers a unique and evocative setting with a spectacular view of lake Orta. Immersed in a mystical atmosphere visitors can discover many artworks surrounded by nature. It was conceived at the very end of the 16th century when the first chapel was erected. There are twenty chapels all decorated with many terracotta statues and frescoes. Everyone represents an important moment of St. Francis's life.