The Lake Orta
The Lake Orta and the territory
In the constellation of the most famous subalpine lakes, Lake Orta is the star of lesser magnitude: the smallest, yes, but not the least as bright as a beauty.
We find, in fact, on Lake Orta, although concentrated in a shorter space, the greater the appeal of brothers: the charm of natural and urban environment and human landscapes, panoramas, landscapes and monuments built by man.
Charm charm in common does not mean equal, that Lake Orta has its own characteristics in each of the areas mentioned above, or rather, the nuances that differ, despite the equality of identifying the species, so to say "lake".
Landscape Cusiano is all sweetness and serenity:
The lake is wedged between mountains, lush forests and meadows, except the granite wall of the Madonna del Sasso and the northern foothills of the Mottarone whose maximum height reaches 1500 meters.
The Cusio, one might say, is the lake most restful of all, even because of its urban-environment guided by Arcadian rusticity.
Visit it with us aboard our boats.
Orta and Isola San Giulio
Orta is situated on a peninsula at the center of the shore of the lake, 45 kilometers from Novara.
The core of dwelling lies on the shore opposite the Island of San Giulio, which form a single municipality, while the villages of Legro and Corconio are halfway up the slope of the hill behind it I find. The third fraction, Imola, is made few houses overlooking the lake, along the course of the road in the direction of Gozzano.
The center of Orta is completely closed to traffic, is characterized by very picturesque narrow streets: the main runs parallel to the shore of the lake and intersects with some steep alleyways that depart from the lake leading to the Sacro Monte (UNESCO world heritage), or to wide area of the parking lots.
On one side of the main square (Piazza Motta), departing from the boats to the island of San Giulio, Motta is the ascent of the summit of which stands the church of Santa Maria Assunta, built in 1485 and rebuilt in the second half eighteenth century.
In Piazza Motta is also broletto or Palace of the Community of Riviera di San Giulio, dating back to 1582;
There will exercise legislative, executive as well as through the General Council (composed of members of the Episcopal feud). It is considered the symbol of the long period of self-government in the region.
Current home of the Municipality of Villa Bossi, Orta is a beautiful garden overlooking the lake.
It is part of the town of Orta San Giulio, the only island of Lake Orta and the island of San Giulio. 275 meters long and 140 wide is about 400 meters from the shore.
The island is dominated the building of the seminary, built in 1844 on the ruins of the castle.
In the seminar is now a convent of cloistered Benedictine nuns of the Monastero Mater Ecclesiae.
The sisters are dedicated to "manual work and spiritual hospitality.
Since 1984, the convent houses the School of tissues and restoration of tapestries "linked Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence.
On the island is also the Basilica of San Giulio, the outside facade and Romanesque while the interior was remodeled in the eighteenth century.