La Dolce Vita
In retrospect, this area was one of our top favorite areas of our North-Italian journey. The hills around Lago d’Orta are not as steep as around Lake Lugano but nicely rolling and more comfortable to walk along. The villages are not as steep, not as many slopes and steps, and the overall feeling here is relaxing and smooth.
View of Lago D’Orta with the island San Giulio
Beautiful gates abound
Besides exploring the area of a not-so-much travelled Italian lake, our interest was the 3-star Michelin restaurant Villa Crespi in Orta San Giulio, the main small town of the lake. We had made reservations many months before while still in Newton and were excited to check it out for lunch. We did not expect it to be in such an ornate and eye-catching building.
Villa Crespi patio
Hallway to the three star Michelin restaurant inside Villa Crespi
Interestingly, we were seated around a large round table with Randy nearly to my side, not across. All the tables in our room were handled that way, and it gave us lots of space and always facing the waiters when they explained our next course.
Everything about the restaurant was fancy
There were so many waiters bustling around, Randy thought that it felt like he was in a computer time management game. Of course, the food was outstanding!
There was a dance to the way the waiters skirted each other
We stayed in a small village in the hills above Lago di Orta, Miasino, with great views, some essential shops like a gelateria for our daily ice cream and a very well attended good rustic dinner restaurant with live music.
Our bedroom in a small village in the hills near the lake
One day we took the ferry, first to the small island in the middle of the lake.
Isola San Giulio
Then further to the other shoreline, where we first walked along the lake and when we were just too hot to go any further, we found a public lakeside beach to swim and refresh.
Gitty takes a refreshing swim in the lake
Randy enjoys some chips with his Aperol Spritz
Overall, we felt that this little piece of heaven should be more explored in the future – maybe this is the area to retire to? It is now on the top of our list!