Italy - Lago d' Orta

It is located west of Lake Maggiore and belongs to both the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, as well as the province of Novara. The lake is 13.4 km long, 2.5 km wide and 143 m deep and the surface 18.2 km ². The lake is 290 meters above sea level.

The water flows into the Nigoglia-flowing stream and then united into the Strona River and the Toce slightly open flowing into Lake Maggiore.

The mount Mottarone which is 1491 m high separated the Lake Orta north-east from Lake Maggiore. Valsesia mountain limited the lake to the west.

Lago d' Orta is a region of peace and balance with significantly less population and tourist bustle except during the famous flower show Ortafiori, which transforms the streets and squares in a sea of ​​flowers.

On the east bank, the climate is very mild until autumn. Wide areas of fields and forests, mostly chestnut and beech. At higher altitudes pine and spruce forests.

The banks of Lago d' Orta are picturesque, While in this region, a simple rural construction predominates, one can adore mainly in the hinterland of Orta (Armeno Miasino, Vacciago, Corconio) many mansions of wealthy merchants and wealthy emigrants, as well as the estates of aristocratic families from Milan and Novara , already in the 17th Century fleeing the rampant pestilences in their cities. many villas with baroque design facades.

The Lake Orta in Piedmont, has an island, the Isola San Giulio, in the municipality of Orta San Giulio. named after the Greek Deacon Julius, who lived here until the end of the fourth Century and have freed the island from dragons and snakes. The silhouette of the island is dominated by the powerful former Bishop's Palace and the Basilica di San Giulio, which the Bishop of Novara in the 9th Century was built. The center of attraction in the Basilica is a magnificent Romanesque pulpit of black marble, decorated with reliefs of great fighting mythical creatures, eagles and saints. In the crypt are the remains of San Giulio, with gold mask resting in a glass coffin.

The village lies at an altitude of 696 m above sea level. The municipality covers an area of​​ 15 km ². A municipality with 398 inhabitants (as of 12.2011) on the western shore of Lake Orta in the Italian province of Verbano Cusio Ossola (VB), Region Piedmont.

The place is named after the sanctuary (in the district Boleto), built from 1730 on a granite rock, and from which one has a panoramic view of Lake Orta.

"Holy Mountain" Sacro Monte of Orta was built at the end of the sixteenth century designed by the Capuchin monk Cleto from Castelletto Ticino. The chapels are all overlooking the Lake Orta, who thus offers a highly atmospheric and picturesque landscape.

The complex is named after St. Francis as a dedicated follower of Christ. This constitutes its peculiarity - that he is a saint and not dedicated for the life of Christ or the Virgin Mary, thus it is quite different from the other sacred mountains.

The Sacred Mountain of Orta is located on approximately 400 m above sea level, the summit of a hill overlooking the lake. She is registered since 2003 as part of the Sacred Mountains in the list of World Heritage Site by UNESCO.