Tourist attractions Orta San Giulio

Dominating Stresa and Lake Maggiore from a height of 1,491m, the Mottarone which is reached up a panoramic toll path, the " strada borromea ", has a superb panoramic view over the lake, the Alps and the massif of Mont Rose.

These three superb little islands took the name of the Borromee family who had received Lake Maggiore as a fiefdom in the 15C. Charles III occupied Isola Bella in the 17 C and built a palace there that is typical of Lombardy Baroque style and is ..

This tiny (300m long and 160m wide) jewel of an island on Lake Orta houses the Basilica di San Giulio, probably founded in the 4C. Inside there is a lovely 12C ambo (pulpit near the choirstalls), decorated with frescoes by the school of Gaudenzio F..

Lago d'Orta is separated from Lake Maggiore by Monte Mottarone rising to the northeast. It is bordered by wooded slopes and the tiny islet of Isola San Giuilio , home to a basilica, rises from its still waters. The best view of this delightful pictu..

The Sacro Monte dominates the town of Varallo, 20km from Lake Orta. Its 43 chapels are decorated with frescoes and life-size terracotta figures (16C-18C) depicting the Fall of Man and the Life of Christ. They were the work of several artists includ..

The gardens of this villa, designed by a green fingered Scottish major, include a profusion of dahlias, rhododendrons, lotus flowers, water lilies and tropical trees whose curious outlines evoke those of the celebrities who planted them.

This lake is a protected natural site (motorboats are forbidden), ideal for a stroll and for contemplating views over Lake Maggiore and the Alps. A few miles from Mergozzo lies the village of Montorfano , home to Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista, a..

The sanctuary dedicated to St Francis of Assisi and set on a hilltop overlooking Orta San Giulio is a renowned place of pilgrimage. It consists of twenty Baroque chapels, decorated with frescoes that serve as a background to groups of lifelike terrac..

Charles Borromeo, Cardinal Archbishop of Milan, distinguished himself by his conduct during the plague which decimated the Lombard capital in 1576. In recognition of his heroism, the citizens of Arona had this 24m high statue, set on a 12m base, erec..

The gardens of this villa, at the entrance to Stresa coming from Arona, contain a rich wildlife park .

This Citadel, which has been here since the Lombardo period in the 8C, has a courtroom decorated with admirable frescoes from the 14C evoking the life of the archbishop Ottone Visconti. From the Castellana , tower you have a vast panoramic outloo..