Walk by Lake Orta

We recently returned from a most relaxing, warm and sunny holiday and I’m finding it hard to return to the blogosphere. Firstly, because there’s little sign of any spring back home yet. Secondly, because we had a project completed while we were away and I’ve been finally doing some arranging in the spare room. There is also a third reason I will share later at some point. I am working on finding the blog bug again but first things first. Here is the second post on our visit to Orta San Giulio in Piedmont I kind of promised last time. (If you missed the first one click here.)

When walking along the wet alley away from the piazza towards the cape north of the old town we noticed that the gate to the garden of Villa Bossi was open.

Even on a rainy October afternoon the little garden looked most inviting. It’s easy to imagine how lovely it will be in the springtime – that is at about now I suppose – when the archway of wisterias leading towards the lake will be cascading with flowers.

In fact, the place will provide a most enchanting venue for civil weddings any time of the year as the 17th century villa now serves as the town hall. The bride can make a grand entrance by boat to the little pier and through the lakefront iron gate.

Despite the somewhat unfriendly weather we continued towards the waterfront passeggiata rimming the tip of the cape, peeping into the gardens of the villas and admiring the views across the lake. Never mind wetting your shoes a bit when you can take a walk by water in such an adorable setting.

Later when we were at Monte Mottarone we spotted Lago d’Orta, Isola di San Giulio and the cape down in the distance. The poor weather was all forgotten by then and we were rather pleased when looking back at our few hours at the pretty little town a few days earlier. But should we ever return to Lake Orta such a short visit won’t do that’s for sure. (My post on the mountain excursion here.)