An unforgettable experience at the B&B Seme di Faggio
Guys, I absolutely have to tell you: I spent three days at Lake Orta with my daughter, and I still can’t believe it. We arrived in Miasino, a medieval village that looks like it’s straight out of a postcard from another time. As soon as we set foot in the B&B Seme di Faggio, we were welcomed by Sara, a lively person whose smile lights up more than the sun. The wooden door seems borrowed from ‘Game of Thrones’. Our room? A cozy retreat, all wood that smells of forest and calm, with details cared for as if they were little touches of affection.
First exploration and dinner at Antico Agnello
We settle our things and set off to explore the village. Walking through the narrow streets, we come across the Church of San Rocco, the Garden of Simples, and the majestic Villa Nigra, in whose park we find exactly what we were looking for: a place to dine, the Taverna dell’Antico Agnello, decided! Here, I am speechless: Fassona tartare that melts in your mouth like snow in the sun, maltagliati with rabbit ragout that envelop your palate with a warm hug, and desserts that take you back to your childhood. Stuff you dream about even at night.
Art, history, and flavors between Miasino and Orta San Giulio
Royal breakfast and trail towards Legro
The day begins with a breakfast prepared by Sara: chestnut honey thick as a mountain tale, fresh cheeses that sing stories of green meadows, and freshly baked bread that welcomes you with its enveloping aroma. A manifesto of slowness and taste. A hymn to the land, a call to the roots we too often forget in a society that never stops running. We taste the authentic flavors of the place and are ready for the hike. The trail towards Legro, which Sara used to take as a girl to go to the pub with friends, is an experience. The landscape leaves you speechless, you smile unknowingly. The steps form a natural painting that enters your eyes and never leaves you.
Discovery of Legro, the painted village
Upon arriving in Legro, the murals immediately capture us. The paintings are open windows onto different dreams: scenes of everyday life, tributes to cinema and literature. My daughter, who devours books as if they were snacks, is enchanted. And I think about how art can transform a place, make it come alive again. It’s as if every brushstroke were an act of rebellion against conformity.
Orta San Giulio and ice cream break
We resume our journey towards Orta San Giulio. Upon arrival, we take a lunch break under the portico by the lake. The atmosphere is so magical that I expect to see a unicorn emerge from a bush, but instead we find an ice cream at Laboratorio Cannavacciuolo that is a mystical experience. An explosion of flavors that reminds me that pleasure is a right, not a luxury.
We stroll through the streets of Orta San Giulio to the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. The Baroque architecture is a dance of light and shadows, a play of balances that mirrors life itself. The past whispers secrets. It’s like walking inside a history book with colored illustrations, an experience that forces you to reflect on how small we are in the face of the majesty of time.
Palazzo Penotti Ubertini and dinner at the pub
We end the day with a visit to Palazzo Penotti Ubertini. The Sergio Cerini exhibition leaves us speechless. His works are like a punch to the stomach and a caress at the same time. Knowing that the palace hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year shows us how vibrant the cultural scene here is. For dinner, we return to the pub Il Cantuccio, where we enjoy a pinsa and a Novarese hamburger with locally sourced products. A perfect conclusion to a day full of emotions.
One last day of discoveries
The final breakfast at the B&B is a fresco of goodness and sweetness that reflects Sara’s generous soul: fresh brioche that smells wonderful, rye bread with figs that brings back ancient flavors, sweet focaccia with raisins, and heart-shaped cookies that make you feel pampered like at your grandmother’s house, a feeling that, in the era of fast food and virtual relationships, is a rare luxury.
Boat trip to San Giulio Island
We return to Orta, where we take a boat to San Giulio Island, a place that embodies peace and beauty. The Basilica of San Giulio is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture, a monument that evokes a distant but still vibrant past. The ‘Path of Silence and Meditation’ invites us to reflect, a moment of pause in a world that constantly urges us to rush. Walking around the island, we feel the history and spirituality that permeate every stone, every corner.
We have lunch in a historic lakeside café. Light and fresh dishes, spectacular view… it’s an unforgettable moment. We spend the last few hours relaxing, reflecting on these three magical days.
Then there is a conclusion…
These three days at Lake Orta have been an experience that goes beyond words, a journey that has touched the deep chords of the soul. The B&B Seme di Faggio and the warm welcome of Sara made us feel at home. A home away from home, which offered us refuge and inspiration. The natural beauties, the picturesque villages and the rich history of this region have conquered us, but more than anything, it was the feeling of living an authentic adventure, far from the most beaten tourist routes.
I recommend everyone to visit Lake Orta, a place where nature, art and culture come together to create a unique experience. It is not just a trip, it is a return to the origins, a way to rediscover the beauty of the world that we often forget in the daily frenzy.
And so, friends, we conclude this adventure. I hope you had fun and were able to appreciate every moment of this wonderful experience. Remember: beauty is everywhere, you just need to know how to grasp it. The true magic does not lie in the places, but in the eyes of those who know how to look at them with curiosity and love. And perhaps, deep down, the greatest revolution is learning to see the world with new eyes, every single day.
