What is Gozzano known for?

Southern tip of the smallest Italian subalpine lake, water at 290 meters, with Bandiera Blu certification for water quality. Twelfth-century basilica built around a ninth-century shrine for Saint Julian, who evangelized the lake with his brother Julius. Twelfth-century lookout tower 23 meters tall, three internal wooden decks, held by the Bishops of Novara from 1235.

Gozzano is a comune in the province of Novara, Piedmont region of Italy, about 41 kilometers from Novara.

Piedmont · Novara

Gozzano

The town at the southern tip of Lake Orta, with a ninth-century basilica for Saint Julian and a twelfth-century signaling tower above the water.

41 km / 25 mi

Nearest hub (Novara)

5,499

Population

Apr–Oct

Best time to visit

Recognised as

Bandiera Blu

Why come

Gozzano sitsabove the southern tip of Lake Orta, the smaller of the Italian subalpine lakes. The Latin name Gaudianum meant 'place of enjoyment,' a Roman villa from the late imperial era. By the fourth century the area had been evangelized by Saints Julius and Julian; the Basilica di San Giuliano was built at the end of the ninth century to house Julian's body, with an eleventh-century bell tower added later. The current building is a twelfth-century reconstruction modeled on the basilica on Isola San Giulio and the old Novara cathedral. Above the lake stands the Torre di Buccione, the twenty-three-meter signaling tower of a vanished twelfth-century castle, held by the Bishops of Novara from 1235. Gozzano is the largest town on the southern Orta shore and the main road access to the lake from the Po valley. The lake holds a Bandiera Blu for water quality, one of the few inland lakes in Italy to qualify.

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Known for

Basilica di San Giuliano
Twelfth-century reconstruction of a ninth-century basilica built to house the body of Saint Julian, with an eleventh-century bell tower.
Torre di Buccione
Twelfth-century signaling tower 23 meters tall, the remnant of a vanished castle held by the Bishops of Novara from 1235.
Lago d'Orta lungolago
Southern shore lakefront at 290 meters of water elevation, the gateway to Orta San Giulio and the Isola San Giulio.
Palazzo Vescovile
Former bishop's palace next to the basilica, a reminder of Gozzano's medieval status as a Novara diocesan stronghold.

When to visit

Best months · Apr–Oct

Best
Hot or crowded
Quiet
Mostly closed

April through October is when the lake town opens. May and June bring camellias and the lake at its clearest, with the Buccione tower visible from the southern lungolago. September and October are dry and the chestnut woods on the surrounding hills turn. July and August are warm but the lake breeze keeps the lungolago liveable; weekend day-trippers from Milan and Novara fill the road to Orta San Giulio. November is misty and the basilica fills for All Saints. December through March is quiet. Many lakefront restaurants close. The lake itself stays open and the Torre di Buccione walk is best in winter when the trees are bare.