The lake d'Orta

This small but enchanting lake, dear to the writers Mario Soldati and Massimo Bonfanti, offers to the tourist several attractions. First of all a visit by boat to the San Giulio island to see the homonym cathedral and some fine frescoes belonging to the school of Gaudenzio Ferrari.

You can get a magnificient view from the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sasso or from the twenty chapels of the Santo Monte frescoed by important painters ( Procaccini, Morazzone ). Of particular interest is the village Orta placed on a peninsula that stretches towards the middle of the lake, here the visitor can find nice shops and good confectioner's shops.

Not far there is the most important Sacro Monte placed in Varallo: you can reach its top by a cableway.

In the near wool centre of Biella there is the Sanctuary of Madonna d'Oropa that dates back to the XIth century, and that is also one of the greatest in Italy.

During falltime we suggest you to go for a short visit to Gattinara and taste the homonym wine, so as in Ghemme, famous for its tasty pork products.