LAKE ORTA: MOTORCYCLE TOUR IN PIEDMONT AT THE FOOT OF THE MOTTARONE

Despite being the smallest of the Prealpine basins, the great charm of Lake Orta and its panoramic setting make it perfect for a Sunday motorbike ride or for a short excursion outside the city. Suitable in any season (although is during the warmer months that the beaches, glimpses and campsites scattered here and there are fully appreciated) the motorbike ride on Lake Orta is very popular among Lombard and Piedmontese bikers. This is because it is about 90-120 km from the respective capitals and at the same time represents a common passage point to and from Lake Maggiore. Considered one of the most evocative and romantic lakes in all of northern Italy, traveling around Lake Orta by motorbike will make you discover a unique atmosphere that has remained intact over time, the same one that inspired philosophers and poets such as Nietzsche or Balzac who stayed in these locations.

We are in fact close to Mottarone (another stop appreciated by motorcyclists) and Orta San Giulio (the lake's reference town), immersed in a landscape that has well known how to mix reliefs, stretches of water and small villages lying along the banks. In recent years, Lake Orta is gradually rediscovering its public thanks to Chef Cannavacciuolo, who opened his restaurant here - 2 Michelin stars - at Villa Crespi. Are you ready to discover Lake Orta through the Roadsitalia motorcycle itinerary? Let's go through it in detail.

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LAKE ORTA BY MOTORCYCLE: THE ROADSITALIA ROUTE

It starts from Arona, the perfect location for a morning breakfast south of Lake Maggiore and easily reachable from Turin or Milan. Proceed along the SP229 reaching Buccione, at the foot of Lake Orta. This town is famous for the Special Nature Reserve of Colle della Torre di Buccione, a protected area of 30 hectares made up of dense vegetation, where oaks and chestnuts alternate. The protagonist and dominant, in the center of this green oasis, is the Tower, also known as Castello di Buccione, capable of offering a spectacular view of the lake. Still on the SP229 we arrive at Orta San Giulio, the most iconic village on Lake Orta.

We park the motorbike here because we can not miss a visit to the town. Orta San Giulio has just over 1,200 inhabitants and is a place where time seems to have stopped; it has an intact historical, artistic and naturalistic heritage, which makes it one of the pre-Alpine tourist destinations of excellence. The historic center winds its way through its narrow stone streets - adorned with 18th and 20th century architecture - which join in the city center of Piazza Motta, the harbor square. The square directly overlooks the lake shore and from here it is possible to reach the island of San Giulio by ferry, where the Mater Ecclesiae monastery, the cloistered Benedictine female abbey, stands. On the opposite side from the marina, however, it is possible to admire many structures dating back to the maximum splendor of Orta San Giulio, such as the historic Palazzo Gemelli and the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, rebuilt in the eighteenth-century style.

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Even more perched, however, is the hamlet of Legro, today the economic center of the municipality also known as the "painted village". On the walls of many buildings, several Italian and European artists have in fact drawn frescoes that portray the history of this small village on the slopes of Mottarone. Finally, do not miss here, the Sacro Monte (UNESCO World Heritage Site), dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi where there are 22 chapels that each depict an episode in the life of the saint. The Sacro Monte dominates the lake from above and offers breathtaking panoramic views on clear days.

We turn the motorcycle back on and always follow the SP229 to reach in Omegna, a quiet town surrounded by an enchanting setting of mountains and known for its beautiful historic center. Given the numerous bars and restaurants overlooking the shores of this stretch of Lake Orta, Omegna is usually the perfect location for a little relaxation, a quick meal or an aperitif, usually to then divert to the streets of Lake Maggiore or of the small Lake of Mergozzo.

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Mappa GPX - Clicca per scaricare

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But this will not be our path. In fact, from Omegna, we close this motorcycle tour of Lake Orta by visiting Pella, the last town on our itinerary. You can get there via the SP46, where about halfway it is worth stopping and visiting the Qualba Waterfall, in Nonio. Pella overlooks the lake and remains exactly on the opposite shore from Orta San Giulio. The village has retained many features of medieval origin and is perfect for those in search of peace and tranquility. The promenade along its lakefront is very romantic at sunset, with the Island of San Giulio standing there in front of it. From the center of Pella it is possible to reach the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sasso, erected overhanging the water at a height of over 600 meters. A suggestive place, worthy of the extraordinary panorama that it can offer over the whole of Lake Orta.

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USEFUL TIPS ON THE PATH OF LAKE ORTA

As mentioned, the warm seasons are ideal if you also want to take advantage of the beaches to catch some sun or take a swim. That said, there is not a season better than another to organize a motorcycle ride on Lake Orta. Whether it's a weekend, a Sunday or a weekly trip, the clear sky and the sun are the main variables of this itinerary. The roads are also suitable for beginners: the eastern stretch of the lake has low carriageways that run along the lake. The western one, on the other hand, rises slightly inwards, but offers a more panoramic position and a very pleasant view of the lake. And you? Have you ever ridden by motorcycle the streets on Lake Orta? Tell us in the comments below and send us your souvenir photos!