Glorious Orta San Giulio

Orta San Giulio is an enchanting pedestrian village in Northern Italy, about 1-1/2 hours north of Milan. It is part of Italy's "lakes district," which includes the more famous Maggiore, Garda and Como (hello, George Clooney).

Writers and artists have hailed the region's beauty and romance for centuries.Years ago, Maxfield Parrish was inspired by this region, with its stone balustrades and staircases leading down to the lakes; the soft, pastel hues of the frescoed villas; the gardenias, bougenvalia, magnolia and wisteria which grow in such abundance; and the palm trees juxtaposed against snow-capped mountains (due to the region's temperate microclimate). It truly is a magical spot, but not for everyone... Orta has a rare quality of spirituality about it that residents say emanates from the Isola San Giulio in the center of the lake, where nuns still live in a beautiful, 18th-century convent. (That is the large building you see in this picture of the island.)

During the winter, Orta is home to about 400 residents. In summer (particularly August), its population climbs dramatically as tourists descend upon it from all over the globe. Most of these tourists come from Italy, France and Germany, but there is the occasional English and American.



In August 2001, with 73 friends and family in attendance, my husband and I were married at Orta's city hall.
Two years later, we decided to purchase a small condominium just a few meters away from the historical archway leading to the piazza. The condo building had recently been renovated, and, depending upon whom you ask, was originally either an 18th century hotel, or 13th century convent. (We lean toward the former, although the archway leading into the town is in a wall over 1,000 years old!)

Our condo is on the ground floor (hidden behind this stone wall). When I took this picture, I was standing in the little parking lot in front of the building, with the town itself directly behind me (and to the right). The archway described above was to my immediate right. Although you cannot see the lake from our condominium, it is about a 3-minute walk away.



























This is what the front of the condo looks like once you open the wooden gate in the stone wall in front of the building. It has two small bedrooms (one with a queen size bed, one with a trundle bed), one bathroom (with a shower), a small living area, and an eat-in kitchen (we renovated this ourselves!)


































On the right is the master bedroom.