In the middle of Lago d’Orta just several miles from Lago Maggiore lies the picturesque island of San Giulio whose perimeter is of only 650 metres.
Legend says it that in the second half of the fourth century AD St. Julius had to flee from Greece to escape the persecution.
To combat paganism on his way he began to build Christian churches. At the end of his life he wanted at all costs to erect his hundredth church and was fascinated by the island, which at that time was infested with poisonous snakes and dragons.
The saint, unable to find a boat, spread his cloak on the water and started to walk towards the island. Dragons and snakes were driven out by sheer force of the word, and so the saint had no problems with finishing his hundredth church there. He was buried underneath of what is at present Basilica San Giulio.
The real history was probably even more dramatic one. At the end of 5th century Onorato, Bishop of Novara has started the works of island’s defense which were carried on in the following centuries.A castle on the island made it virtually impregnable, but before it was finished the island was the scene of fierce battles and bloody sieges.
Besides short period of the time the island of San Giulio remained under the domination of the bishops of Novara until July 18, 1817, when the Church gave the property to king Vittorio Emanuele I. Finally in 1861 the island and surrounding area became part of the Kingdom of Italy.
The impressive castle was destroyed in 18th century and on its place stood the cloisters belonged till the present day to Benedictine nuns. The complex includes seminar and workshop of nuns, who are dedicated to “manual labor and spiritual hospitality”. Since 1984 the workshop manages the “School of Restoration of fabrics and tapestries,” promoted by the local authorities and Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence.
Much older history is connected with the Basilica of San Giulio. As testified by early-Christian archaeological findings, the basilica stands presumably on the place, where San Giulio has erected his church in the 4th century. The basilica of clear Romanesque structure is built to a Latin cross plan and has a nave with two aisles and apses. The arched portal is preceeded by a pronaos with two columns surmounted with a large window. Behind the left apse stands the remarkable bell tower ornamented by gernel windows and triple arch windows strongly influenced by the Lombard-Romanesque style. Note also the frescoes representing Saints painted by pupils of Gaudenzio Ferrari and members of the Cagnoli family.
The basilica is opened for visitors every day: from 9.30 to 17.45 (up to 18.45 in summer time) with the break between 12.15 and14.00.
Bsides a visit to the nunnery interesting is the walk around island with its gardens, villas and interesting views on the Lake Orta.
[photo courtesy of kebnekaise]
