About
Floating in the middle of Italy's little-known Lake Orta is a fairytale island.
This picturesque expanse of land near Lago di Orta has an ethereal quality that makes it a hidden gem among Italy’s vacation spots. As visitors come ashore, they are greeted by buildings perched along the island’s edge and an assemblage of religious structures and homes, many of which have been standing for over a millennium. A chapel constructed in the 5th century is believed to be dedicated to Saint Julius, who is said to have rid the island of its swarming serpents and monsters in the 4th century. His remains reportedly remain on the island even now.
