Lake Orta

Small alpine lake enters the Lombardy and the Piedmont the province of Novara in Italy of North. One of most romantic and quiet lake of the Flat of Po.

Geography

Of its old Roman name Cusius and Cusio in Italian, it is parallel to the Lake Maggiore and separated by the mount Mottarone (1491 m), it is located on the road of Domodossola at Novara. It is most Western of the alpine lakes, creates by the glacier of the Simplon, its water leave to north to join Toce ( via Strona), then the Lake Maggiore. 13 km length out of 1,5 km broad and at an altitude of 292 meters (either 100 m higher than the Lake Maggiore).

principal cities

Omegna, important industrial center and tourist resort at the edge of the lake.
Orta, (Orta San Giulio) , charming medieval small town.

Tourism

The Insulated di San Giulio

Located at 400 meters of bank where regular shuttles make the way since Orta. This island. Long 275 m out of 140 (perimeter of 650 m). It is a covered picturesque rock of old medieval houses at the edge of banks of the lake and crowned by the buildings of the seminar which replaced the castle of the former dukes destroys in 1842.

superb the basilica of the 14th century (restored with the S), where one can admire the pulpit carved, the sarcophagus of the duke lombard Mimulfe, the stalls of the chorus and very beautiful frescos of the 15th century. The remainders of Jules saint are preserved in the crypt .
the beautiful tower ( Torre di Buccione ).

The Sacro Assembles (the Sacré mount)

Create as from 1583 by the inhabitants and devoted to Saint François d' Assise, whose paintings of the vaults represent the life and the miracles. In the middle of a raised nature of pines, larches, beeches, maples, etc, 21 vaults form a rotunda, decorated with taste, drawings of Michel-Angel, paintings and sculptures, represent the life of the saint.

The walk is made with foot after having left the car on the park with the bottom of the mount. The sight on the Lake Orta is splendid.

The mount Motterone ( Mottarone in Italian)

Two possible accesses:

Since Orta, by the very abrupt tourist road which passes to Armeno. For most courageous, a pedestrian path and very physics go up at the top into 3 or 4 hours.
Since Stressed, the same road, in more sinuous, goes up at the top. This road is with toll.
Of Stressed in 20 minutes of cable car, along a very panoramic course, one reaches the top of this 1491 meters high mountain, which separates the Lake Maggiore from the Lake Orta. If time allows it, one can enjoy a sight to cut the breath: the Mount Pink in his splendor, seven lakes, the islands Borromées, the valley of the Po with Milan.

It there with the possibility of going down to the intermediate station to visit the botanical garden Alpinia , dedicated to the flora of the Alps and the officinal plants, which offers, inter alia, a balcony on the islands Borromées

Ski station in wintry time.

Bonds external

the blog of the Lake Orta
Guided visit of the surroundings of the lakes

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