The Isola di San Giulio is the only island on Lake Orta, part of the Municipality of Orta San Giulio (NO) which stands a few minutes distance across the water. It owes its name to the evangelizing Saint Julius who, legend tells, defeated the dragons and snakes of the area, then chose to remain and build his 100th church here in 390 C.E.
A small residential centre includes one of the most significant historically significant buildings: the 12th century Romanesque Basilica di San Giulio, whose crypt preserves the ruins of the ancient Early Christian church present on the site before. Inside, amid abundant Baroque decoration and saints frescoed by the pupils of Gaudenzio Ferrari, is an ambon in serpentine from Oira (situated on the west shore of the lake) featuring the Evangelists and the Benedictine Abbot William of Volpiano, considered one of the highest examples of Romanesque sculpture in Italy. The Benedictine Abbey Mater Ecclesiae was built in 1973 next to the Basilica, on the site of the former Palace of the bishops of Novara, princes of the Riviera di Orta. Walking the circular route of the via della Preghiera e della Meditazione provides the opportunity to appreciate its imposing size.
Film Commission Torino Piemonte
Via Cagliari 42 — 10153 Torino
Phone: +39 011 2379201
Fax: +39 011 2379298
Email: info@fctp.it
