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.
Known for
LAKE ORTA
Southern tip of the smallest Italian subalpine lake, water at 290 meters, with Bandiera Blu certification for water quality.
SAN GIULIANO
Twelfth-century basilica built around a ninth-century shrine for Saint Julian, who evangelized the lake with his brother Julius.
TORRE DI BUCCIONE
Twelfth-century lookout tower 23 meters tall, three internal wooden decks, held by the Bishops of Novara from 1235.
When to visit
Best · Apr–Oct
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Best
- Hot or crowded
- Quiet
- Mostly closed
The festa: Giuliano, 7 January
Why come
Gozzano sits above 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.
The Sunday letter
We haven’t written Gozzano’s letter yet.
One town every Sunday, with the photo, the food, the festa. Be there when this one comes up. Free, by Peter & Sophia from Pietrasanta.
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What to see
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.
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Living here
- Population 5,499
- In-betweeni
- Pharmacy in town
- High school within a 30-minute drive
- Train station in the comune
- Nearest airport Turin, 1 h 29 min drive
- Regional capital Torino, 1 h 28 min drive
Tags & datadesignations · numbers · sources
Recognised as
The numbers
- Elevation: 367 m
- Population: 5,499
- Surface area: 12.58 km²
These figures were compiled from public directories — ISTAT, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata — and from the official listings of the guides named on this page. Town details change; verify with official sources before you travel.
Close by
More towns near Gozzano
Orta San Giulio
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🟦 Bandiera Blu
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