This was an optional (extra cost) tour but it sounded interesting and it looked like we’d learn something.
Lake Orta is another feature in the Lake District of northern Italy. It has a long history of religious presence and has served as a pilgrimage site since the 4th century.

We started our tour (after an hour on the bus) at the bus parking lot where we boarded a small road train that took us up to the top of the sacred mountain. The designation ‘sacred’ relates to how it is revered by pilgrims and the shrines it houses.
This sacred site is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi. It consists of a series of 42 shrines recounting events in the life of St. Francis. Pilgrims visit and pray at each shrine in order ending at the church for mass.

We did it backwards. Our first stop was the church.

After visiting the church we proceeded to the last chapel – this one depicting the moment when the Pope declared the not yet dead Francis to be a saint.

Chapel 10 depicts the incident where St. Francis is dragged, naked, thru the streets of Assisi.

In the period when this was a major pilgrimage site not everybody could read, much less follow a map. So each chapel contains a direction arrow to the location of the next chapel.

After some exploration (and a lot of explanation) it was back to the train, back to the bus, and into the village of Orta.
We had a narrated walk thru town,

eventually ending up at the harbor area where it was market day.

We checked out the merchandise, sampled a bit of cheese and an olive or two, and boarded a water taxi to the San Giulio Island.

This Island has been a place of religious significance since Neolithic times. In the 5th century a small chapel was built there. The current basilica was erected in the 12th century. In addition to this church the Island houses a Benedictine abbey.

In the church we were not allowed to take photos but it was a church with amazing frescoes and a crypt with a real saint (although all you could see were a silver death mask and silver shoes. The rest was covered with a shroud.).

Leaving the church we walked around the island and learned about the seminary for priests there.

Back on the mainland it was time for lunch in a local taverna.

Then we had a few minutes to wander and shop before heading back to the bus.

Back at the hotel we had just enough time to change before gathering on the rooftop bar for a farewell drink and hors d’oeuvres.

Then it was off to pack and get ready.
Tomorrow we move to Interlaken Switzerland.

Till then,
R