🦊 Your base
Villa Volpe
Your design home on the sunny shore of Lake Orta, three metres from the water in Orta San Giulio — the perfect base for everything on this map.
Check availabilityAn interactive map of our favourite places around the lake — from Orta San Giulio and its island to waterfalls, hikes, watersports and the best tables. Hand-picked by the hosts of Villa Volpe.
Lake Orta is the quiet, romantic little sister of the bigger Italian lakes: a UNESCO-listed sacred mountain, a car-free medieval village, a monastery on an island, and green hills laced with trails and waterfalls. Everything below is within an easy drive of Villa Volpe. Use the category filters to plan your days, and tap any place on the map or card to learn more.
Tap a pin or a card to see details. Villa Volpe is the black marker.
Your design home on the sunny shore of Lake Orta, three metres from the water in Orta San Giulio — the perfect base for everything on this map.
Check availabilityThe car-free medieval heart of the lake: cobbled lanes, frescoed houses and Piazza Motta opening straight onto the water.
Read the guideA tiny island crowned by a Romanesque basilica and a silent monastery, a two-minute boat ride from Orta's jetty.
The legend of San GiulioA UNESCO World Heritage hill above the village, with twenty frescoed chapels dedicated to St Francis and sweeping lake views.
A baroque sanctuary perched on a granite spur, offering arguably the finest panorama over the whole of Lake Orta.
In hillside Gignese, the only museum in the world devoted to umbrellas and parasols — quirky, charming and rain-proof.
A hidden waterfall with an ice-cold natural plunge pool near Boleto — a refreshing reward after a short forest walk.
Cold plunge guideCascades and green pools along the Pescone stream near Ameno — a lovely spot to cool off on a hot day.
A 23-metre medieval watchtower on a wooded knoll, reached by a short walk and rewarding you with a wide view over the southern lake.
A 15th-century Franciscan convent crowning a quiet, chestnut-covered hill — an easy walk to peace and panorama.
An easy ridge hike above the eastern shore with a string of panoramic viewpoints over lake and Alps.
A circular nature trail through the WWF oasis, woodland and evocative abandoned hamlets in the hills of Ameno.
A tiny hilltop chapel and one of the loveliest, least-crowded sunset viewpoints over the lake.
Rent a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard on the Orta lakefront and glide out to the island under your own steam.
Outdoor activitiesLearn to sail or head out on a skippered cruise across the calm, sheltered waters of the lake.
Sailing with Dodo GorlaWake&More runs wakeboard and wakesurf sessions for all levels on the quieter southern reach of the lake.
Wakeboarding guideHire an e-bike and let the motor flatten the hills as you loop the lake or climb to a viewpoint.
Outdoor activitiesTreetop rope courses and zip-lines in the woods above the lake — a great half-day for families and thrill-seekers.
The 1,491 m peak between Orta and Maggiore, with an alpine coaster, adventure park and a 360° view of seven lakes.
Antonino Cannavacciuolo's two-Michelin-star restaurant in a fairy-tale Moorish villa — the lake's flagship gastronomic experience.
The Villa Crespi experienceA historic Michelin-starred kitchen in nearby Soriso, a serene 15-minute drive from the lake.
Cannavacciuolo's relaxed lakeside restaurant and resort at Pettenasco, right on the water.
A refined lakefront restaurant with a pool terrace in the heart of Orta — lovely for a special dinner over the water.
A hillside agriturismo with its own vineyard, seasonal cooking and a memorable view down to the lake.
A cosy trattoria in Orta's old town serving generous Piedmontese classics.
A rustic osteria in the hills above the lake, strong on local dishes and a warm welcome.
A friendly hotel restaurant in the centre of Orta San Giulio, handy for lunch between sights.
Lake fish and a waterside terrace by the jetty at Pella, on the sunnier western shore.
A panoramic restaurant on the hills above the lake, worth the drive for the view alone.
Artisan gelato on the western shore at Pella — the perfect excuse for a lakeside stroll.
A neighbourhood pastry shop and café for a proper Italian breakfast a short stroll from the villa.
The handiest supermarket for the villa, a few minutes north along the lake.
A local grocery for everyday supplies in the hills east of the lake.
A budget-friendly supermarket a short drive south, towards Gozzano.
A larger supermarket for a full shop, at the southern end of the lake.
We write in depth about swimming spots, the island's legends, shoulder-season travel, dog-friendly days out and accessible itineraries around the lake.
Read the Villa Volpe blog