Lake Orta, Alpine lake in Piedmont, Italy.
Lake Orta extends for 13 kilometers through the northern Italian region, surrounded by dense forests and mountains reaching an elevation of 290 meters. The water appears calm and dark, while steep slopes drop directly to the shore in some sections and other stretches ease gently toward small villages.
The body of water, formerly called Lago di San Giulio, received its current name in the 16th century and hosted the first European Rowing Championships in 1893. In earlier centuries, it served as a vital connection between communities along its shores, who relied mostly on fishing for their livelihood.
The island of San Giulio contains a monastery where Benedictine nuns maintain their religious traditions and welcome visitors to explore the 12th-century basilica. Around the shoreline, small chapels and villages show the long connection between water and faith that shaped life here.
Regular ferry services connect the lakeside towns of Orta San Giulio, Omegna, and Pella, providing transportation for residents and visitors throughout the day. The waterfront promenades are mostly level and easy to explore on foot, while some paths leading to higher viewpoints become narrower and steeper.
The Nigoglia river flows northward from the body of water, making it the only Italian lake with waters moving toward the Alps instead of south. This unusual course came about through geological shifts that redirected the original drainage of the basin.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
