"Lago di Orta" Orta San Giulio by Callavetta

Orta San Giulio Travel Guide: 9 reviews and 15 photos

A church high on the cliffs above Lake Orta

Passing the Hottest Days of June

Lago di Orta is the smallest of the famous lakes in northern Italy. This tiny jewel has a number of towns surrounding it and a beautiful island in the center with an old church and school and some homes and small restaurants. The most popular tourist destination in the area is Orta San Guilio.

We arrived on Lago di Orta during what was to prove to be part of the hottest month of a hot summer. This is one of Italy's smallest lakes and is beautiful and less crowded than Como, Garda, Maggiore, or Lugano. The town of Orto is charming and tiny with cobble streets and pedestrian only walkways. Cars are permitted in (if they can fit through the very narrow tunnels that take you into the town) only long enough to drop off their passengers. Parking is high above the town.

On Saturday morning there is a huge market in the Piazza. The things that are sold are pretty pedestrian and frankly not very unique. Restaurants and shops line the piazza and narrow streets of the town. There are some wonderful artesan bakeries and a shop with a wonderous selection of cheeses. And of course, there is the omnipresent gelato!

Last visit to Orta San Giulio: Jun 2003
Intro Updated May 3, 2005
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Reviews (4)

Isola Things to Do (2)

Be sure to take the boat out to Isola di San Giulio. Out there you must visit the Basilica, open from 9:30 to 12:15 and... more travel advice

The Main Piazza Things to Do (2)

Like in many small towns in Italy, life in Orta San Guilio centers around the main piazza. On Saturday morning the... more travel advice

Breakfast on the patio was wonderful - Orta San Giulio

Lakeside Accommodation Hotels (1)

Hotel Orta is a really pretty, very old hotel on the main square of Orta San Giulio. I had a double room for single... more travel advice

Take the Train Transportation (1)

We arrived at Lago di Orta by train. The lake is about 5 k from the train station. There are taxis available to take you... more travel advice

Comments (4)

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susancurry Jun 29, 2010 at 4:45 AM

Such a beautiful place,but how is it possible in this day and age that the only way to get from the station to the lake is by taxi ? Obviously it's just another way of getting money out of people !!!
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Herkbert Jun 20, 2009 at 4:33 PM

Thanks for sharing the info, Katherine. We're in the process of planning a trip to Orta and your tips were helpful. Happy travels. Tom
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sourbugger Apr 3, 2008 at 3:42 PM

how come some people get to live in such beautiful and cared for places. great character you seem to have found in this place btw
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Manara May 3, 2005 at 10:25 AM

Not so many people know this place. Pity for the weather! The summer of 2003 was terribly hot everywhere in Europe.