Walking and cruising around Lake Orta
- 3 hours
- 4 languages
- Private tour
- Mobile ticket
Highlights
Lake Orta is a small, quite unknown pearl, lying a few kilometers westwards of Lake Maggiore. Its chief town, Orta San Giulio and the close by isle of San Giulio create a unique, charming "lounge" on the lake coastline. The small alleys, the ancient churches and the enchanting landscapes merge together in a scene of rare beauty. This exclusive tour will allow you to enjoy the fascinating atmosphere of the coastline village by a pleasant walk; later, a short, relaxing cruise will take you to the isle of San Giulio, 400 metres offshore, where you will witness the remains of the medieval settlements, a majestic romanesque church and an 19th century seminary.
Inclusions
What's included
- Qualified private guide
- Private cruise on a taxi-boat to the isle of San Giulio
What's not
- Gratuities
- Lunch
Itinerary
Also simply known as Orta, it is part of the club of the most charming villages in Italy. From the Medieval age to the 18th century, Orta was the chief town of an independent association of cities called "Comunità della Riviera", well defended by the natural configuration of the site. The town centre is characterized by narrow alleys, mostly converging into the beautiful Piazza Motta, seat of the City Hall and overlooking the lake.
The isle is the only one in the lake of Orta and belongs to the municipality of Orta San Giulio. Probably inhabited since the Iron age, the isle has been considered a strategic site since the 6th century and thus surrounded by defensive walls. After having been a stage for the rivalry between the Sacred Roman Empire and the Lombard kingdom in the 10th century, the whole lake district was ceased to the bishops of Novara, who reconstructed on the island the cathedral of San Giulio in a Romanesque style. In 1841, the medieval castle was demolished to make room to a Seminary, designed by architect Ferdinando Caronesi.
Cancellation
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Know before you go
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Book Your Italy
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Lake Maggiore
- Its from-price is 12% above the median of the 82 experiences we list in Lake Maggiore.
- Its length is typical for the group.
About Lake Maggiore
Lake Maggiore is a long Alpine lake shared by Italy and Switzerland, with the Borromean Islands, villa gardens and mountains at its back.
Lake Maggiore stretches for some 60 km from the Swiss canton of Ticino south into Piedmont and Lombardy, and it is the second largest lake in Italy after Garda. Its western shore holds the resort towns of Stresa, Baveno and Verbania, with grand 19th-century hotels along the water and mountains rising behind. The mild climate allows palms, camellias and azaleas to flourish in the lakeside gardens.
Top-ranked sights in Lake Maggiore: Palazzo Borromeo, Gardens of Villa Taranto (Giardini Botanici Villa Taranto).
