Orta San Giulio Peninsula Walk

By Vicky · Published Nov. 11th, 2024

This walk around Orta San Giulio Peninsula has lovely views of the lake, passes through the historic old town and visits Sacro Monte di Orta.

Orta San Giulio Peninsula Walking Map

Location

This short walk around Orta San Giulio Peninsula starts from a car park near Villa Crespi. The parking is just off the road. If you’re lucky you might find space in the free section (far end), or there are paid spots (those with blue markings).

Tips

From the town of Orta San Giulio you can get a little boat across to the island – Isola di San Giulio (€5 for a return trip). Once there you can visit the church and walk around the one street on the island. However, the best thing about the island are the views of it from elsewhere.
If you prefer, take a guided tour of Orta San Giulio*.
For refreshments, there’s plenty of restaurants and cafes in ORta San Giulio, and there’s also a restaurant at the top of the hill in Sacro Monte di Orta.
For more walks and hikes, check out our Italy Hiking Page.

Orta San Giulio Peninsula Walking Route

Walking around Orta San Giulio Peninsula

Walking along the edge of Lake Orta, Italy

From the car park, continue a short distance along the main road, then take the signed path to your right. This trail parallels the road for a short distance before bending towards Lake Orta.

Once you’re at the lake’s edge, you’ll really be walking right at the edge of the lake. If it’s rained a significant amount in the past days and weeks, you may even be walking a little bit in the lake! When we were there, water up to ankle-height covered the path.

There are great views from the trail, first of the eastern, then the northern and western parts of the lake. In clear days you can see all the way to the mountains of the Alps. Don’t forget to look to your left – you’ll pass some interesting buildings. Continue to walk along the path and once you’ve rounded the end of Orta San Giulio Peninsula you’ll start to see a couple of villas on the edge of town.

Many of these villas have lovely gardens. Camellia flowers (a bit like roses, but growing on large bushes) are emblematic of the northern Italian lakes, and Villa Motta on your left has an especially large collection of these.

Walking through Orta San Giulio Town

You enter town walking along a cute little cobbled street. This is actually the main street of town, so you’ll pass most of the interesting buildings if you stay on this street. However, don’t be afraid to take detours down any other quaint passageway you see.

Along the main street, to the right you’ll soon see Hotel San Rocco*, the fanciest place to stay in town with a floating pool in the lake and a fine-dining restaurant. A short distance further you’ll see the cute little Church of Saint Roch.

Next, don’t miss the town hall on your right. This is also known as Villa Bossi. Make sure to walk through the big gates and into the garden of the villa (free entry). The garden borders the lake and there are great views from here over the water and back to the grand villa with it’s beautiful garden.

Palazzo della Comunità

Walking through Orta San Giulio main square

Continue walking through Orta San Giulio and you’ll pass many cute shops, cafes, restaurants, and tourist shops. Soon you’ll reach Piazza Motta, the main town square. Lined by more cafes and shops, the most distinctive building is the Palazzo della Comunità. Built in 1582, this palazzo covered in frescoes once housed the Council of Community who decided on local laws.

The main town square is also where you’ll find the little boats going over the Isola di San Giulio. There’s no set time table, boats leave when there are passengers. Whether you take the boat or not, walk around the square, enjoy the views, then return to the Palazzo. Inland you’ll see a street leading up to a church. Take this street.

Once you reach the church at the top, head to the right and walk up the road. Once you reach a junction just before the cemetery, take the track to the left through the gates and still upwards. This leads you into Sacro Monte di Orta.

Sacro Monte di Orta

Sacro Monte di Orta is a little reserve a the top of the hill containing many chapels. The chapels are generally open from 9am to 6pm, though closed on some public holidays. It’s a slightly strange place and often a little deserted (apart from occasional tour groups and locals on walks).

You can wander around as you please, and there are many routes you can take. However, don’t miss the main church, up the road immediately to your right after you pass through the gates. There’s a fantastic viewpoint here over Lake Orta and the island far below.

As you’re wandering around, gradually head over to the far side of the hill and exit down the road. Take the first right, and continue downhill. You’ll soon see Villa Crespi* on your right – a five-star hotel with Moorish architecture built by a cotton barron 150 years ago.

When you reach the main road, turn left to find your car. This is the end of the Orta San Giulio Peninsula Walk. For more great views of the lake, visit the nearby Torre di Buccione, or for more walks and hikes, check out our Italy Hiking Page.