6. Lake OrtaOrta San Giulio Lake Orta is a lake in northern Italy, west of Lake Maggiore. It has been so named since the 16th century, but was previously called the Lago di San Giulio, after Saint Julius , the patron saint of the region. Its southern end is about 35 kilometres by rail, to the northwest of Novara on the main Turin-Milan line, while its north end is about 6 kilometres by rail south of the Gravellona-Toce railway station, halfway between Ornavasso and Omegna. Its scenery is characteristically Italian, while the San Giulio island has some very picturesque buildings, and takes its name from the local saint, who lived in the 4th century. Located around the lake are Orta San Giulio, built on a peninsula projecting from the east shore of the lake, Omegna at its northern extremity, Pettenasco to the east, and... From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.