Northern Italian Lake District

Lake Orta is situated in the Italian Region called Piedmont, on the west side of Lake Maggiore, that you can reach in about 30 minutes by car, 1 hour drive from Como Lake. It is known as ‘Cinderella’ and has long been a favorite destination for tourists thanks to the beauty and the tranquility of the landscape, its fascinating history and its art treasures principally of Romanesque and Baroque architecture. Orta San Giulio, the famous medieval village on the lake shore, is just 3.5 kilometers from the villa: a delightful village of narrow streets, cobbled squares, houses painted with frescos, palm trees and lakeside cafés and restaurants. For anyone coming to see the historic village of Orta San Giulio, a visit to the Sacro Monte is a must: the religious complex of several chapels with terracotta statues dedicated to the life of St. Francis, now inscribed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The real jewel of the lake is the picturesque Isola di San Giulio and it is worth taking a boat from the square of Orta San Giulio and visit the 12th-century Romanesque church with its immense Gothic pulpit and the tomb of St. Julius.