A diamond nestled among the Alps, shining every day in the light and colours reflected on the waters of one of Italy's most picturesque lakes. Today we show you Pella, a small village in the province of Novara, located on the west shores of Lago d’Orta, Piedmont. It’s one of the most ancient “borghi cusiani”, a place where the visitor can find not only peace, but also a site rich in history.
If you have never visited Pella, you really should. Whereas, if you have seen it at least once, you must have fallen in love with it and are now thinking of buying one of the houses for sale in Pella, which you can easily find on our website. But let’s cut to the chase and see what to visit in Pella, what are the main attractions and, most importantly, what restaurant to choose.
First of all, we’ll explain how to get to Lago d’Orta and Pella. If you come by car, just take the A26 motorway and take the exit to Borgomanero or Arona, then drive along the SP46 towards Gozzano-Omegna or the SP48 towards San Maurizio d’Opaglio-Pella. If you come by train, the train station where you can get off is on the line Novara-Domodossola and is located in Gozzano, which is linked to other areas with the bus line “Comazzi”. The nearest airport is Milano Malpensa (40 km from the centre of Pella).
Strolling along the lake, in the middle of the water mirror you can admire the picturesque San Giulio Island, which we recommend you visit along with Orta San Giulio by boarding a motorboat or ferry. The lakeside promenade soon leads to the medieval tower of Pella, now privately owned and once part of the town's defence system. Further on, we recommend a visit to the 16th-century church of Sant'Albino bishop, with its small portico and bell tower rebuilt in 1936 with stones from Alzo.
A priceless sight is also offered by the River Pellino, just a few steps from the small square in Pella and in the direction of the cemetery. The hump-backed bridge above it was built in the past to allow funeral processions to reach the small cemetery. From the centre of Pella, it is possible to reach the hamlet of Alzo and the Madonna del Sasso sanctuary overlooking the lake. By consulting the timetable, it is possible to take advantage of the tourist train that will make a beautiful uphill journey through history and nature.
Pella's jewel in the crown, however, is the church of San Filiberto, located near one of the motorboat landing places that connect the centre to Isola San Giulio and Orta San Giulio. San Filiberto is the oldest complex in Pella, built around the 11th century A.D. with 16th-century renovations. The church, with a single nave, houses some beautiful frescoes inside. Among them are portraits of San Giulio and San Filiberto, along with other saints.
Strolling around the wonders of Pella, you will certainly get hungry. So where to eat on Lago d'Orta? You are in luck, the centre of Pella is full of typical restaurants and inns. We certainly recommend the Ristorante Bar Imbarcadero in Piazza Motta, but also the Antica Cartiera di Pella (in Piazza Don Giuliano Ravedoni 1). For a more informal lunch, also try the Bar Pizzeria La Piazzetta in Via Roma 1, while for a crepe or an ice cream go without hesitation to the Gelateria Antica Torre in Via Lungolago 8/10.
Lun - Ven 9/13 - 14/18 Sab 9/13 Domenica - Su appuntamento
Mon - Fri 9/13 - 14/18 Sat 9/13 Sunday - On appointment
Mo - Fr 9/13 - 14/18 Sa 9/13 Sonntag - Nach Vereinbarung