Orta Lake Tourism

In the Middle Ages was known as Lago d'Orta Lago di San Giulio, and only the seventeenth century began to assert its present name from the main town, Orta San Giulio.
Name Cusius (Cusio) derives from a misreading of the Tabula Peutingeriana where you see a lacus Clisius whose exact identification is uncertain.
The name came Cusio still use, first learned and then administration and is now used to indicate the lake.
Are to be relegated among the assumptions that would make fantastic speculation that the name comes from the mysterious tribe Cusius Usii.
The name of Usii appears for the first time in the writings of the historian Antonio Rusconi, around 1880, and some have taken uncritically later.
East of Mount Mottarone separates Lake Maggiore from Lake Orta, while to the west mountains as high as 1300 meters separate the mirror from the vapor Valsesia.
It is the most western foothills of the Alps, between lakes, which originated from the southern front of the glacier Simplon.
Contrary to what happens with many alpine lakes, which have an outlet to the south, the waters of Lake Orta leaving the lake to the north.
Through the city of Omega giving life to the creek that flows into Nigoglia Strona which, in turn, flows into the Toce and then into Lake Maggiore.
At the center of the lake lies the island of San Giulio, of small dimensions, which houses the remains of the saint in the Basilica of the same name.

Town on Lake Orta

• The pretty town of Orta San Giulio is located on a mountainous peninsula, home to the top of the Sacro Monte, dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi.
  The faces the island of San Giulio
• Miasino: country full of villas and monuments.
• Pettenasco ancient urban center certificate from the year 892.
• Omega, the main urban center.
• Nonius, with the picturesque village of Oira.
• Pella, with the medieval tower and the ancient church of St. Philibert.
• San Maurizio d'Opaglio, with the villages of Lagna and pasture.
• Gozzano, with the ancient port of Buccione, the bishop's castle with the collegiate church of San Giuliano and the speakers of San Lorenzo and Santa Maria di Luzzara.
  

Village overlooking the lake:

• Madonna del Sasso, with the location Boleto and the famous Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sasso from which it has a spectacular view over the lake.
• Pogno, country painting.
• Bolzano Novarese
• Amen, the country of artists. In the past it was one of the richest centers of the lake, as evidenced by its numerous churches and villas built by amenesi who had built their fortune abroad.
• Armenian, the country of the hotel.
• Under Quarna, country music
• Quarna Above, from his viewpoint we have a bird's-eye view of the lake.
• Cesara
• Arola, along the trail to the top of Civiasco.