Because our trip to Orta San Giulio was for a wedding, this post won’t be the typical ‘guide’ post I share. In fact, I wasn’t even planning on doing a post about our most recent trip at all. Contrary to what I probably should do, I like to make a conscious effort to shut down ‘Blogger Eire’ when doing stuff with friends and family. However, Orta San Giulio — the cobble-streeted, mountain-viewed, ‘old-charm’-Italian lake town that it was — is too breathtaking not to share with you.
So yes, instead of a usual lengthy blog post, I thought I’d do a little ‘photo journal’ blog post, hoping to convey the sheer awe-inspiring beauty of Orta San Giulio on Lake Orta, Italy. Frankly, though, my photography skills (and kit lens — if all else fails, blame the camera) are just not up to scratch. Orta San Giulio is that beautiful.
My only real recommendation? Make Lake Orta your next Spring or Autumn holiday destination. This is not the kind of place where simply seeing photos will suffice.
— THE VILLA —
Pictures of the villa where stayed in Orta San Giulio. Views of mountains included.
The living area of the villa. Two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs, one bedroom and bathroom downstairs.
Views from the master bedroom. Yes, this is the SECOND balcony area at the front of the house (the dream).
My friend, Kellie, snapping the beautiful views.
— THE VILLAGE —
Views of Orta San Giulio, and snaps of our slow, peaceful long weekend.
— THE GELATO —
I take gelato eating very seriously.
— 7 TIPS FOR VISITING ORTA SAN GIULIO, ITALY —
Okay, my soliloquy above about having ‘only one recommendation’ was my ‘pretty word’ lie. I have a few recommendations if you plan on visiting Orta San Giulio or just Lake Orta.
- Rent a car. It’s not the most easily accessible place on foot or by public transport
- While the hotels in the centre of Orta San Giulio and probably beautiful, try and stay in a villa instead. We rented ours from Airbnb, and it was one of the loveliest rentals I’ve stayed in. I think a villa over a hotel will give you that slow-living, ‘this is how life should be’ feeling that so encapsulates Orta.
- Wear sensible shoes. The hills and cobblestones here mean serious business.
- Book dinner at Il Cucchiaio di Legno. Both restaurant and working farm, this local Italian spot is sublime, with course-after-course of fresh, local cuisine making its way to you — for a measly 30 euros each.
- Why not take a day trip to Switzerland? One-hour-thirty minutes later, with a scenic tour around Lake Maggiore later, and you’re in Locarno, Switzerland. Ticking off a second country in one trip? Bonus.
- Don’t overburden yourself with research. Which is not something I’d ever thought I’d write about a travel destination. This is the kind of place you want to experience based off of reviews and rankings. Let the magic of Orta San Giulio take over: slow-down, enjoy an amble, and pick the first place that has a seat overlooking the water.
- Visit the island. While there isn’t all that much to do there, the eerie quiet, medieval walls and water views is like a spellbinding journey back in time.
Have you been to Orta San Giulio or Lake Orta? Or have you been to any of the other Italian lakes? What was your experience of it like?