๐ทHI STEEMIANS!๐ท
Our Abandoned-Italy Tour continues and today we are at Lago d'Orta - a lake close to the border between Piedmont and Lombardia. You might have heard about Lago Maggiore, which is pretty close by and more famous.
โ๏ธFor exactly that reason, we are travelling to Lago d'Orta. โ๏ธ
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The morning is misty, wet and even a bit snowy. As we leave from Torino towards the lake, we worry that our little Polo might not make it all the way up the hills. But luckily, the Polo is in great shape and seems to be in his element.
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Everything looks a bit washed out. Like quickly painted with water colours. The edges and fringes didn't matter to the artist today. Sky, water, trees, everything has the same grey shade of blue. And the sun is nowhere to be seen.
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It's quiet and we feel no wind. Just this soft layer of wetness on our cheeks and our hair.
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We are wondering around the lake - without a specific goal - just filling our lungs with precious icy crystals. The lake used to be heavily polluted by the industry around the lake but Piedmont made a big effort in order to bring life back to the lake. It took 30 years in order to clean it and introduce fish and other sea creatures back into the natural cycle.
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Today you can swim and fish again in the lago d'Orta and it even got the reputation of being a place for lovers and young couples who want to have a romantic weekend and escape Milano, Bergamo or Torino.
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ISOLA SAN GIULIO
The precious little island you see in the background is called Isola San Giulio. The island is mainly occupied by a convent: catholic sisters that never leave the island. The chief of the nuns - La Madre Superiora - is very famous and she offers advice to normal people from time to time. People say that it's a magnificent experience to meet her. Unfortunately, we didn't have the chance to go to the island. Above all entering the convent is only possible with an appointment.
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The atmosphere around the lake is mysterious. I can only recommend to travel there in winter. We were told that it's jam-packed in summer. But now, the little streets are sleeping, few souls wondering through the narrow archways. Everybody friendly, everybody silent.
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It seems like the entire population is in hibernation.
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The door to the church is open and we sneak in. The calm and cool air with a slight note of smells and bells is greeting us as we pass the gate.
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After a short walk we reach the main square of the village. No ice cream shop, no souvenirs, no tourists. Just a couple of people wondering slowly over the square - seemingly with no mission. Seemingly with no worries. Seemingly content.
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From down here, we can clearly see the convent. This is exactly how I always imagine Avalon. Did you read Marion Zimmer-Bradley? Such a place of imagination and fantasy. In my mind, it had exactly this colour, surrounded by mist and mystery.
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๐ทI hope you enjoyed our little reportage about Lago d'Orta. If you feel like 'Lago Maggiore' is too touristic and you're still searching for the beauty of Italian lakes by the mountains - this is a good address. ๐ท
Where do you plan to travel to this summer?
Steem on and stay curious!
๐ฟELENA & ALE๐ฟ
Enjoy every corner of Italy. The entire country is magnificent!!!
Hello dear @rosepetal - yes, I'm also in love with the country!
I love Italy. It's easy to navigate from Milano, the heart of north. From there a short ride Venice, Como, Lugano (Swiss), Genoa, Turin, or drive straight to Imperia, Sanremo, Monaco or Nice...adesso io sto diventando troppo gelosa ๐, l'italia come mi manchi! Buon viaggio e divertiti!
Hello dear @world-traveler , yes, you're right. It's very easy to get to from Milano.
When have you last been in the country?? ๐ฎ๐น
xx
@elenahornfilm
@elenahornfilm 2011.
@originalworks
I loved the soft photos of the lake. With the convent on the island, it reminds me a little of the Mists of Avalon. Safe travels to you!
Hi @katrina-ariel ! Exactly that's what I was thinking when I saw it. It felt like I found exactly the place that I was imagining whilst reading Mists of Avalon.
Such a mind-blowing book by the way.
Have a fantastic day!
xx
Elena
Another beautiful place, with a mysterious convent! I can't imagine what life must be like for those nuns. Probably very sheltered - they must find the outside world quite scary.
Yes, I was wondering the same, @natubat .
I'm so intrigued to understand their process of decision making. What makes you come to the conclusion to spent your life in remote - on a little island without never leaving it?
xx
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beautiful scenery and amazingly beautiful pictures I like
Hi @rayyan18 - I'm so glad you enjoyed it. This makes me very happy!
xx
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Adorando i laghi ecco un altro posto che devo vedere! Segnato!
Ciao @noemilunastorta ! Era un area industriale fino a 30 anni fa , ma ora รจ un luogo davvero incantato..
Is it actually this calm as it looks in the photos?
Forget tourists I couldn't even spot a local in any of the photos. The whole town looks like a beautiful yet incomplete painting.
Hello dear @thenomadictales ,
yes, it's very remote and abandoned - above all in winter. I didn't expect it to be so empty to be honest.
xx
@elenahornfilm
Nonetheless really beautiful
haha, thanks ;)
wow looks so amazing!
Hello @joshruiz - thank you so much! It means a lot!
xx
@elenahornfilm
That little island (Isola San Giulio) is amazing. Great tour and photos. Thanks!
Hello dear @qberry , yes, it is truly a stunning place.
I hope you'll get the chance to visit it some time!
xx
@elenahornfilm
That place really looks peaceful its almost looks like in movies. ๐๐
Hello @minerva23 - yes, it really has a cinematic feel to it.
Merci!
@elenahornfilm
Gorgeous photos and wonderful description!
Hi @rwedegis - thank you so much. I'm very glad you enjoyed it!!!
lovely. I remember being in Limone , at the Lago Maggiore it was one of the most romantic trips of my life :) Thanks for the shots of wintery Italy it's nice to see its many different faces.
WOW @highonthehog - now you made me curious! I would love to hear this romantic story! ๐
heh , good times and memories, although the boyfriend didn't last. There is an amazing boutique hotel where we have stayed... that's all really. :)
Haha, well, boyfriends can change - good experiences stay :-)
Wow, very cool photos. Looks so mysterious
Hello @bilta - that's exactly the word that I found to describe this place perfectly - MYSTERIOUS!
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Found you on Steemit Free Dollars Yal in (fb) ...Following Wonderful photographs you've captured. I look foward to reading more of your posts... safe journey to you both.
Hello dear @mithrilweed - I'm enchanted to meet you! I'm also following your journeys now.
I'm curious to read your blog!
xx
@elenahornfilm
Nice work, nice place !
Hi @schwepps800 ,
thank you very much for your kind feedback!
Always :)
Beautiful photos
Hi @ginafraser , I'm so glad you enjoyed the pictures!
Sehr schรถne Bilder:-)
Vielen Dank, liebe @birgitt ! ๐
by looking at the result of the shot, and the perfection in the picture picnic at Lago d'Orta, as if I went there. because behind the Lago d'Orta is very beautiful aslinnya plus a perfect shot that makes anyone who saw it very fascinated .....
Hello @smokerr , I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures. Can you elaborate a little bit more what you mean by a picture picnic - whatever it means, it sounds like my kind of thing!
๐ @elenahornfilm
I have always loved Italy! The buildings there have such character. This was a great post, thank you for sharing!
Hello dear @oregontravel ! Thank you so much for your comment. Yes, time gave these buildings such character. It's such a charming place!
You found the right words!
xx
@elenahornfilm
This is such an unexpected travel article that I have seen quite sometimes ago from steemit. Being away from the hustle bustle city life has always been my goal of traveling. Experiencing and exploring something new is what makes us to think outside the box. Good work for both of you :) Keep it up and hope to see more from you~
Hello dear @explorernations ,
thank you very much for your kind words. I absolutely see, that you're a traveller in heart and soul.
We are following your explorations with excitement! ๐
xx
@elenahornfilm
Wow Elena you are really exploring places one after other, Lucky you. Travelling is the best part of living.
I want to travel Italy but I am sure I will not be able to explore the place the rugged way that you do, though I would love to.
You havr some wonderful clicks.
Have a great time :)
Love and regards to you my dear
Hello lovely @nainaztengra , I absolutely agree with you: Travelling is the best part of living.
Please let me know when you have the chance to travel to Italy! I will absolutely show you around the north of this magnificent country!
A big hug,
Elena
What beautiful photos you share with us of Lake D'orta, besides the island is beautiful, a good place for lovers as you say, it is romantic.
Google translator.
Hello lovely @marpa ,
yes, exactly, it's a perfect place for lovers. I didn't know that Lago d'Orta had this reputation. Alessandro only told me when I was already there ๐
xx
@elenahornfilm
The lake seems calm and relax, like a day you want to breath purรฉ air
Yes, @wineyla1 - it reaches every corner of your lungs !
Love the town with such a cooling ambiance. Guess that's the time of turning spring and it will be more colourful by then :) Awesome place to visit btw.
Hello dear @kimzwarch - yes, I expect a colour explosion within the next couple of weeks! But at the moment it's all milky and icy.
xx
Really great shots! Especially the one with the Convent. Love it!
Have you been to Prague? Will travel there in March (and quite happy about it)
Hi @dennis.bacchus ,
unfortunately I have never been to Prague. It must be a magnificent place to photograph as well. Bring a nice camera to your trip and let me know once you post about it!
xx
I will. ;)
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@elenahornfilm just found your post using @steemitworldmap. Excellent pictures - also we have choosen the "Ortasee" instead of his famous brother/sister next by. Have done a travel blog with lots of pictures already - some still to come @thegermangirl.