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Lake Orta navigation history
Lake Orta has always been a main link of communication between the coastal villages, that with the beginning of the XIX century could use an alternative way of transportation, the road that from Gozzano goes to Orta.
On the 1st of November 1878 the sailing of steam boats started , with pubblic service for nine years using three elegant steamers Cusio.
The pubblic service lasted just nine years because meanwhile the railway was built to connect Gozzano from the southern shore with Omegna on the northern Mergozzolo and Umberto 1.
After a few problems the steam navigation started again in 1910, with the great Regatta for the Italian rowing Championship held in Orta, with great interest and participation of the Press and local people, the steamer Riviera was moved from the Costa Azzura waters to the Cusio ones, re establishing without any difficulty a service that year after year kept increasing thanks to the crowd of passengers.
In 1935 the steamer Principe di Piemonte was destroyed by a sudden fire and with this the pubblic navigation of Cusiana was interrupted.
They had to wait till 1984 to be able to re establish the service thanks to the Azalea boat, followed by the biggest one Ortensia.
The season of 2009 sees the entrance of new associates.
Your're invited on board!