Lake Orta & Isle di Giulio

Anyone have a honeymoon coming? Romantic holiday? This is so the place! Lago di Orta was stunning. It's a small village, not much to do, not much going on (though we did miss the Risotto Festival that was being set up for the next day- check out the Paul Bunyun sized pan!) Absolutely perfect - nothing to do but stroll about and look at the character filled old buildings or sit in the piazza with a glass of wine and watch the light change on the water.

There is a small island in the center of the lake where there has been a church since 400 AD when St Giulio killed a dragon and made the island safe for habitation. The current chapel is from the 1200s (the saint is still there - in the crypt under the altar) and has frescoes from several periods/style. Sorry, no pix allowed. There is a nunnery on the island and they pray according to the bells. There is one path around the island - one direction is called the path of silence and the other is the path of meditation. There were plaques along the path with ideas to contemplate. Of course, silence and meditation would have been a lot easier (read: possible...) without 3 kids along. Well, all of Lake Orta would've been much nicer for two instead of five. Oh well, they liked the boat ride.

This is the unspoiled Italy. If you ever get the chance, and want a place where you have permission to do nothing, and do it in one of the loveliest settings ever, this is the place.