May 28, 2025

Weather clear and low 70’s


Good morning!

After a good breakfast (and a restful night) we boarded the bus to Lago Orta, another glacial lake in the series here in Northern Italy. We were treated to outstanding views along the way.


Church with a view

Because of the mountains, the route took a little over an hour and we were de-bussed in Pella.  There we boarded a water taxi to the Isola di San Giulio, or the Island of Saint Julian. 


The Isola di San Giulio

He was a Fourth Century missionary monk here in the North.  The legend has it that the island in the lake Orta was inhabited by a dragon and many snakes. St Julian spread his cloak on the lake and with his staff as an oar, paddled out to the Island, killed the dragon and told the snakes to leave, which they did.


St Julian’s Legend

St. Julian was credited with building 99 churches and when he got to this island, he determined it would be his last, the 100th. There is archeological evidence of structures dating to the fourth century.  The current church (now named as a Basilica) dates to 900 AD. It is awesome inside with frescos in layers, some four deep.


Renascence Fresco

Visiting this was a real treat for the eyes as all available space had something in it.  There were no candles to light so we said our prayers in front of the tabernacle and a statue of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Also on the island there is a community of cloistered Benedictine nuns. With 80 sisters it is thriving. For work they restore fabric, tapestries and such like and are kept quite busy as they do good work.  They have named the “streets” silent walkways and have posted signs in four languages along the way.


The walk of silence


A street on the island

We exited the island and boarded the water taxi to the town of Orta. It was abuzz with children! You see, it is the last day of school and so they all have field trips around town. It added a unique level of joy to see them all having fun.


Littles marching up the hill

Then we were on free time. So we had lunch at Ca’ Mea, a quaint café in a quiet part of town. Pizza was very good.


Pizza

Then for a little shopping.  We found a ceramic shop where the owner (and maker) had a cute little clock on a ceramic tile with lemons on it.  We decided it could go above the compass rose we bought in Capri many years ago. Then on to a clothing shop where the displays were speaking to Shirley.


Shopping


Main Street

Soon we said goodbye to this out of the main tourist way village and boarded the water taxi back to Pella


Goodbye Orta

We took the freeway part of the way back, so it only took us 50 minutes to get to the Hotel where we surrendered our Quiet Vox devices to Conny and repaired to the room.  The Quiet Vox device is a short-range radio receiver that Viking uses on all their tours.  It allows the guide to speak in a natural voice and be heard by all in the group.  Surrendering it means that the tour is over. 

Our transfer to the Milan airport will pick us up at 3:20 tomorrow morning for our 6:30 flight to Frankfurt where we will catch LH  444 direct to Atlanta. So, after a rest it was packing, organizing and resting and blogging. 

The next post will be from Chattanooga.  And yes, we are ready to go home.  It has been ultra-special, but home is home.

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