Page 233 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

V ALLE D ’ A OST A AND PIEDMONT І 231

views of the lake, climbs to the important buildings stand
church. The path is lined by 21 around Piazza della Repubblica.
chapels, most of them Baroque, They include the beautiful
in which frescoes and life-size Renaissance courtyard of the
figure groups by various artists Broletto (town hall), with its
depict scenes from the life of graceful 15th-century red-brick
St Francis. arcades and covered stairway.
In the centre of the lake Across the piazza is the
rises the picturesque Isola Duomo, rebuilt by the architect
San Giulio. The island was said Alessandro Antonelli in around
to have been liberated from 1865 in Neo-Classical style, with
snakes and monsters by the a huge central doorway. The
4th-century Christian preacher inte rior contains Renaissance
Julius, from whom the island’s paintings of the Vercelli school
name derives. The basilica here and Flemish tapes tries, as well as
is notable for its 12th-century the remains of an earlier sanctu-
The interior of the church of San Giulio in black marble pulpit and for ary on this site: these include the
the centre of Lago d’Orta the 15th-century frescoes – frescoed 12th-century chapel of
including one attributed to San Siro and the 15th-century
p Lago d’Orta Gaudenzio Ferrari, of the cloisters. The octagonal
Virgin and Child Enthroned. Baptistry next door dates in
Novara. V @ g Orta. n Via
Panoramica, Orta San Giulio (0322 90 part from the 5th
51 63). ∑ distrettolaghi.it century and is painted
with medieval scenes
Lago d’Orta is one of Italy’s of the Apocalypse. The
least-visited lakes – unjustly, Museo della Canonica
as it is delightfully set among del Duomo beside the
the foothills of the Alps. Duomo has tombstones
The lake’s main resort is and inscrip tions from
Orta San Giulio, a small town the Roman and early
containing handsome palazzi, Christian eras.
and houses decorated with A few streets away
wrought-iron balconies. In the stands the Basilica di
lakeside Piazza Principale San Gaudenzio. It is
stands the Palazzo della strikingly crowned by
Comunità, a frescoed building an elongated four -
of 1582 resting on arcades. Fresco detail of a horseman (17th century) tiered dome and spire.
A cobbled pathway leads up by Morazzone in San Gaudenzio, Novara Designed by Antonelli,
to the 15th-century church of it is reminiscent of his
Santa Maria Assunta (rebuilt a Novara Mole Antonelliana in Turin (see
in the 17th century), with a * 105,000. V @ n Baluardo p228). At the top of the spire,
Romanesque doorway and an Quintino Sella 40 (0321 39 40 59). ( which is 121 m (400 ft) high, is a
interior that is richly decorated Mon, Thu & Sat. ∑ turismonovara.it statue of San Gaudenzio
with 17th-century frescoes himself. Inside, the late
and paintings. Novara has distant origins as 16th-century church contains a
Above Orta San Giulio is the the Roman city of Nubliaria – fine collection of Renaissance
sanctuary of Sacro Monte, a meaning “surrounded in mist”. and Baroque paintings by artists
UNESCO World Heritage Site Nowadays its delightful arcaded from Piedmont. These include a
built from 1591 to 1770 and streets and squares, and historic notable 17th-century battle
dedicated to St Francis of Assisi. buildings, exude a quiet scene by Tanzio da Varallo, a
A winding path, offering lovely affluence. Many of the most 16th-century altarpiece by
Gaudenzio Ferrari and a fresco
painting by Pier Francesco
Morazzone (c.1572–1626).
R Baptistry
Piazza della Repubblica. Tel 0321 66
16 35. Open 9:30am–noon &
3–5:30pm Sat & Sun.
E Museo della Canonica
del Duomo
Vicolo della Canonica 9. Tel 331 16 59
568. Open 3–6pm Sat & Sun.
View across Lago d’Orta to the Isola San Giulio ∑ novariae.it

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