Orta San Giulio

Orta and its Riviera

The medieval village of Orta, together with the Island of San Giulio, represents the true pearl of Cusio, a precious gem in the treasure chest of Lake Orta. A place of inestimable value, it gathers elements of culture, art and craftsmanship, gastronomic tradition and spirituality – a human history in all its facets.

In the past centuries Orta has always been the main town of the Riviera di San Giulio, a historic autonomous principality, which included a large part of the lake in its territories. It was under the control of the Bishop of Novara and lasted from the 13th to the 18th century.

Today the town is even more evocative because it is completely pedestrian.

Piazza Motta

Among the places not to be missed is Piazza Motta, the beating heart of the village, rich in history and vitality. In the center of the square stands the Broletto, also known as Palazzotto. It was once the place where representatives of the towns of the entire Riviera gathered to make the most important decisions. The building dates back to the 16th century. On the external walls you can see the coats of arms of the bishops who governed the Riviera, three sundials and the symbol of Orta San Giulio: the coat of arms with the Hortus Conclusus.

Church of the Assumption

Another jewel of Orta, which is worth a visit, is certainly the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. The original structure dates back to the 15th century, but was later rebuilt in the second half of the 18th century. The interior of the church contains paintings by various artists, including Rossetti, Cantalupi, Orgiazzzi, Procaccini. The façade was designed by the architect Carlo Nigra. A cobbled street, called Salita della Motta, leads from the main square to the Church of the Assumption.

Villa Bossi

The Town Hall is now located in the historic Villa Bossi. The building consists of an L-shaped body on three floors. From the street you can access the villa through an entrance that leads to the small garden overlooking the lake. The facade looks towards the lake in the direction of the village of Pella. From the internal courtyard you can enjoy a splendid view of the lake and the slopes in front of Orta: the gaze ranges from Monte Camosino on the right, towards the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sasso, up to the territory of San Maurizio d’Opaglio. The scenery is dominated by the Island of San Giulio which stands out in the center of the lake.

Historic villas and streets

The narrow streets of the historic center, the rustic walls, the stone roofs, the tidy cobblestone walkways, the articulated facades of the buildings give the town a medieval appearance, so much so that walking through its streets it seems like you can go back to the times of the Riviera di San Giulio.

There are many historic villas in the territory of the Municipality of Orta. Among these we find Villa Crespi with its Arab-style, Palazzo Penotti Ubertini with its splendid neoclassical facade, the late Renaissance Palazzo Gemelli, the eighteenth-century Villa Bonola in Località Corconio.

The Municipality of Orta San Giulio also includes, among others, the magnificent hamlets of Imolo, Corconio and Legro. The latter was renamed “The Painted Town” towards the end of the 20th century. In fact, many of its walls have been decorated and frescoed with scenes from world-famous films or from the stories of the writer Gianni Rodari.