San Giulio Island
San Giulio Island
4.5
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4.5
1,744 reviews
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160
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Daisy212014
Nancy, France68 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
Around the island, is done by the "path of silence" and is done in 30m-45mn.
In the shade, we discover a typical island, with access to the private lake very nice.
The site has been preserved and there is only one souvenir shop.
On the restaurant side, there is only one. It takes about €50 per person to start a main dessert coffee drink, but with a great view of the lake.
In the shade, we discover a typical island, with access to the private lake very nice.
The site has been preserved and there is only one souvenir shop.
On the restaurant side, there is only one. It takes about €50 per person to start a main dessert coffee drink, but with a great view of the lake.
Automatically translated
Written 2 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jasper v
9 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
It was like walking in a closed park. Everything is hermetically sealed, you can walk one lap of less than 10 minutes. The church is only accessible if you have long pants on, are quiet and do not have animals with you.
The ferries there are overcrowded with tourist groups with screaming escorts.
Expectation was a 10, reality a 1
The ferries there are overcrowded with tourist groups with screaming escorts.
Expectation was a 10, reality a 1
Automatically translated
Written 14 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John F
3 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Disappointing and very problematic. So: you’ll notice (in retrospect) that all the lovely photos are taken *from the air, of the island*. From the island itself, there’s only one place you can see out at all, and that’s the landing jetty! Otherwise, it’s just the cobbled streets, no view.
Now, if you go to an island, I think it’s reasonable to expect that there might be some cafe or gelato or at least a drink, somewhere on the island. There really isn’t. There is *one* restaurant, and unless you want a full main meal, if you want just drinks then you can’t go out on the terrace. Which means, you sit in the dark reception area on a seat next to the hot kitchen, while the maitre d’ glares at you for not wanting a full meal. I mean, ok, it’s their restaurant, but people eating a meal get to sit on the terrazzo outside which is the one place you can see out of Prison Island, and at 4pm?! And if they don’t want that, there’s a nice outside area with tables the other side, which is unused and locked off?!
Ok, so there’s something to do on the island right? Well, indeed there is a nice church with decent frescoes. Which you will be sharing with endless tour parties pushing past you, forty to a tour party, one party per five minutes. The tour parties will all be carrying big lensed cameras which they will expect you to get out of shot. This is the church with the massive sign on the front door that explains the only two rules are No Cameras and No Shorts.
And I might almost expect the tour party thing if these were the most amazing frescoes. They’re….just decent. This is Italy, home of the Vatican museum, the Last Supper, the Accademia. Honestly, go into any church in Italy, this is par for that.
Now, if you go to an island, I think it’s reasonable to expect that there might be some cafe or gelato or at least a drink, somewhere on the island. There really isn’t. There is *one* restaurant, and unless you want a full main meal, if you want just drinks then you can’t go out on the terrace. Which means, you sit in the dark reception area on a seat next to the hot kitchen, while the maitre d’ glares at you for not wanting a full meal. I mean, ok, it’s their restaurant, but people eating a meal get to sit on the terrazzo outside which is the one place you can see out of Prison Island, and at 4pm?! And if they don’t want that, there’s a nice outside area with tables the other side, which is unused and locked off?!
Ok, so there’s something to do on the island right? Well, indeed there is a nice church with decent frescoes. Which you will be sharing with endless tour parties pushing past you, forty to a tour party, one party per five minutes. The tour parties will all be carrying big lensed cameras which they will expect you to get out of shot. This is the church with the massive sign on the front door that explains the only two rules are No Cameras and No Shorts.
And I might almost expect the tour party thing if these were the most amazing frescoes. They’re….just decent. This is Italy, home of the Vatican museum, the Last Supper, the Accademia. Honestly, go into any church in Italy, this is par for that.
Written 19 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alessandra_biondi3
Ferrara, Italy29,613 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
With the boat from Piazza Mario Motta in Orta in a few minutes you can reach the lake island of San Giulio which is a truly exciting discovery. A naturalistic jewel dominated by the Romanesque Basilica, not least are the bishop's palace and the Benedictine abbey. The legend of San Giulio cloaks it in sacredness. Visiting it accompanied by the explanations of the excellent guide Monica Mandelli, I felt transported by her narratives to the life of the past... between history and legends.
Written 27 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jane N
London, UK984 contributions
Aug 2022
This island within Lake Orta is a Benedictine monastery with 60 nuns who have taken a code of silence. There is only one street on the island - the cobbled Via dei Silenzio which then becomes Via della Meditazione. They have signs at various intervals to encourage contemplation and self-renewal. The Basilica di San Giulio was founded in 390 but was largely rebuilt in the 18th and 19th centuries. The remains of San Giulio and his relics are said to be in his sarcophagus in the crypt which you can visit.
Written 27 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vincenzogiaccone
38 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
It is worth the trip (a few minutes for 400 meters of distance) by boat to see this unique glimpse. I did not take photos inside the church out of respect and to savor the architectural and pictorial beauties with the right attention. The alleys for half of the island will amaze you and you will always be with your nose in the air.
Written 11 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Spectacle64
Yorkshire, UK495 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Island is beautiful when viewed from the hill above San Giulio. Lots of boats available to take you over and bring you back - no hanging around. Very efficient and quite cheap. But why go to the island? Church near dock has some interesting wall art but, otherwise, all you can do is wander along a narrow street with "private" or "do not enter" signs on every door. With only occasional glimpses of the lake that surrounds you. One tourist shop that wasn't worth going into. One restaurant (not open when we were there). And that is it. There really is no need to visit this island as it is one of those places that looks best from a distance. Best bit was the boat there and back!
Written 5 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GabrielaSeevetal
Seevetal, Germany9,303 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
By boat to Isola San Giulio for 5 € per person. On the island you walk through narrow streets on the “Path of Tranquility” – “Via del Silenzio” past the old bishop’s palace of 1900, which today houses sixty Benedictine nuns to the “Basilica di San Giulio” – the fully painted Romanesque basilica is lavishly decorated in the Baroque style, but even old fresco remains with partly martial themes of martyr history are still preserved. In front of the altar stands a magnificent Romanesque pulpit made of black marble. Decorated with large reliefs: fighting mythical animals, eagles and saintly figures. In the crypt, San Giulio rests with a golden mask in a glass Snow White coffin.
Opening hours daily 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Opening hours daily 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Automatically translated
Written 25 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
emi
24 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
The island that promised well from the shore of the lake, in truth does not offer much. You walk along a cobbled road between historic and well-kept houses and a few short descents to the lake.
As soon as you disembark, a few steps uphill and there is a small church. Further ahead there is another but not open to tourist visits. Two souvenir shops and a restaurant or two. The tower which points upwards and would give greater meaning to the visit cannot be visited.
Seen once, that's it.
As soon as you disembark, a few steps uphill and there is a small church. Further ahead there is another but not open to tourist visits. Two souvenir shops and a restaurant or two. The tower which points upwards and would give greater meaning to the visit cannot be visited.
Seen once, that's it.
Written 30 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
penny19682016
Genoa, Italy616 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
We returned after 10 years. Very characteristic island on the lake.Tenuta very well. In the Church on the Island there are the Body of St. Julius and the Vertebra of the dragon he killed: inform yourself that they are not under restoration. Boats run every 15 minutes or so and the Pelosis can board them. To get to the village of Orta you have to use special paid parking. From there you get to the village on foot in 10 min. and then boat to the island.
Automatically translated
Written 28 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sicuramente, di solito salgono con la museruola, salvo che siano di taglia piccola, inoltre ci sono le imbarcazioni/traghetti dei privati che non fanno storie, l'importante è pagare il biglietto. Buona visita dell'interessante isoletta con splendida chiesa di San Giulio con annesso monastero delle suore benedettini. Hola hola
Written 11 February 2020
nella chiesa adiacente il monastero è possibile assistere a una messa? e se sì a che ora di sabato o di domenica?
Written 21 March 2019
Betti é possibile tutte le domeniche, ha inizio alle ore 11.00 e termina alle ore 12.20. In questo periodo covid é permesso solo a 50 persone, sono contate dal personale sicurezza.
Se ha bisogno sono qui!!!
Written 9 September 2020
We are visitting the island on Lake Orta shortly. Can you give me any indications what car parking is like on the Orta headland anywhere near the boat? We will be in 6 or so cars ! tia
Written 21 May 2018
There is a convenient covered pay parking at the entrance to the village of Orta. It is very convenient because there is little way to go on foot to get to the marina. However, I do not remember the cost of parking.
Written 22 May 2018
Non mi è ben chiaro dove si prende il battello per l'isola e il costo. Alcuni scrivono 4,5 euro A/R e altri addirittura 13 euro. Sono imbarcazioni diverse???
Written 8 February 2018
Il battello (un motoscafo) per l'isola di San Giulio si puo' prendere dalla piazzetta del paese di Orta. Sono pochi minuti di navigazione perche' l'isola e' davvero molto vicina. Per quanto riguarda I prezzi... sono vere entrambe le cose: circa 4 euro A/R e' la tariffa nei mesi estivi, quando presumibilmente I motoscafi viaggiano pieni. Circa 13 euro A/R (cio' che hanno chiesto a me) e' la tariffa invernale, quando facilmente il motoscafo si muove per una persona sola. Spero di esserle stato utile. Resto a disposizione.
Written 8 February 2018
We shall be at lake orta in Dec late afternoon. I would like to know whether it is possible to have a boat trip around the island at around 4.00? Is there a link where I may check the timing and from where to take it pls?
Margaret
Written 18 October 2016
The boat goes to the island and back. I think there is another type of boat that does a longer trip around some of the lake.
Written 22 October 2016
Hi, we intend to take a boat trip to small island of San giulio since as you mentioned it very cheap. From where did you book the boat, did you need to make bookings and does it work late afternoon? We shall go in Dec.
Moreover, is there a public parking where to park the car while we go on the boat?
Written 18 October 2016
First thing, car parking is as you drive down to Orta, there are open air and multi storey pay car parks which are quite convenient. It is a short walk down to the town and you should enjoy that too, many interesting places to explore on the way
It should take you not more than 20 minutes to wander down there depending on how many shops you enter!
For the ferry it's quite obvious where the boats go from, as you come down to the main piazza which is on the foreshore there are boats moored at place, what I cannot tell you because I am not a walking talking timetable is what times they operate. I guess in December it will be a reduced service but no doubt you can amuse yourselves if you have to wait.
Hope you enjoy it and that the weather is kind to you.
Written 19 October 2016
Sì nei pressi di Orta ci sono campeggi anche se non in Orta e non sull'isola. Quanto agli animali non saprei dire, dipende dalle strutture
Written 21 May 2016
Desidererei dormire sul isola ..... Qualcuno mi potrebbe fornire indicazioni ? Vi ringrazio
Written 25 January 2016
ciao sull'isola a meno di recenti novità ( apertura di un b&b) c'è solo un bar ristorante quindi non credo sia possibile. Io abito ad Orta ma non mi risulta sia possibile. ci sono alcuni b&b carini ma nel paese.
Written 27 January 2016
Non ci sono strutture "ufficiali", forse nel monastero delle suore benedettine a volte ospitano ma non ne sono sicuro. Abitando in zona consiglio, senza farsi "pelare" dalle strutture in Orta, soggiorni in localita' limitrofe. Es: Il Cucchiaio dii Legno b/b in frazione Legro di Orta (che ha anche un ottimo ristorante), oppure sulla sponda occidentale a Pella c'e' La Corte di Alzo, ottimo b/b, oppure il nuovo Albergo La Seca, anche questo b/b. Da questa localita' Orta e l'Isola di San Giulio si raggiungono con i battelli di linea (corse ogni 15 minuti) e i parcheggi a Pella sono gratuiti mentre a Orta la tariffa, ovunque, e' di 2 eu./ora.'
Written 6 June 2015
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