Omegna, Lake Orta. You are in one of the most evocative corners of Piedmont: behind you, Mottarone stands out, in front of you the romantic and verdant Cusio. For those who ask what to do on Lake Orta, the first answer is in this landscape: be enraptured by this place of the soul. Once you get into the mood, then, there will be plenty of activities to plan. Starting with a visit to the town.
Starting from the centre and its main avenue, you will be amazed. It is called Corso (course) because the heart of the town is the Nigoglia, also known as the 'river that goes up': it is, in fact, the rare case of a canal flowing northwards, connecting Lake Orta to Lake Maggiore. Hence also the singular motto that stands out on the town hall: "La Nigoeuja la va in su; e la legg la fèm nu!", or: "The Nigoglia flows up; and we make the law!", a true symbol of the town's pride.
A beautiful village of medieval origin develops around the Nigoglia, showing part of its history in the 11th- and 12th-century houses in the Vatican quarter, along the 'Via del Butèr' (today Via Alberganti), or in the Porta Romana, the last remaining of the five gates that opened on Omegna's walls in the Middle Ages. The ancient bridge, outside the centre and surrounded by vegetation, offers a romantic view of the Strona torrent. A splendid testimony to the origins of the town is the parish church of San Gaudenzio in the hamlet of Crusinallo, which, according to tradition, was one of the hundred founded by San Giulio. It should be visited together with the Sanctuary of San Fermo martire, also in the hamlet of Crusinallo, surrounded by a secluded park from where the view can sweep over Omegna and the natural inlet of Lake Orta that characterises it.
To answer the question what to see in Omegna, therefore, religious architecture is an important attraction. In fact, the list is lengthened by the Church of San Bernardino in Bagnella, the Madonna della Neve near the old bridge, the parish Church of San Maiolo on the slopes of Mottarone and the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in the hamlet of Cireggio, as well as the chapel with the Morta di Agrano, a woman found mummified in 1792 in the ossuary of the local cemetery and thus becoming an object of popular devotion.
If instead we ask ourselves what to do on Lake Orta, in Omegna, the answer is multiple. It ranges from a boat trip along the shores of the lake or to the island of San Giulio to practising one of the many outdoor sports, from classic walks to excursions on mountain bikes and e-bikes, without forgetting water sports such as canoeing and SUP, a sort of surfboard on which to stand paddling in the most picturesque corners of the lake shores. Thrill-seekers, on the other hand, will not want to miss the zip line, which allows you to travel 450 metres suspended over the blue waters.
If, on the other hand, you are with the little ones, Omegna offers one of the most popular destinations in Italy: the Rodari Museum and the Fantasia Literary and Educational Park with its beautiful Torta in Cielo Gardens, also perfect for a stroll or an outdoor picnic.
Omegna also boasts a rich calendar of sporting, artistic and cultural events that enliven the town's social life throughout the year, making it one of the most active centres in the Cusio area. Its proximity to Stresa and the motorway junction makes it even more of a place to live every day.
On the Engel & Völkers website, you can visit the gallery with the magnificent Omegna properties, savouring the tranquillity and beauty that only Lake Orta can convey.
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