Beyond the lush gardens and residences that mark the hill rising behind Orta is a kind of parallel ‘town’ – the sacro monte, where 20 small chapels dedicated to St Francis of Assisi dot the hillside. The views down the lake are captivating, and meandering from chapel to chapel is a wonderfully tranquil way to pass a few hours.
From Piazza Mario Motta, Salita della Motta leads up a cobbled hill between centuries-old houses to the baroque-fronted Chiesa dell’Assunta and then bends right (south) to the cemetery and back right up the sacred mountain. The 20 chapels are scattered about, each dedicated to recounting a part of St Francis' life. Some boast wonderful frescoes while others are more modest affairs. If you're driving, a road also leads up from near the tourist office.
