Ecco di seguito lo svolgimento della prova di comprensione del testo e produzione in lingua straniera proposta agli istituti tecnici per il turismo, indirizzo sperimentale (ERICA) a cura di Bianca Grossi dell’ITC S. Bandini di Siena. Un test che ha attirato su di sé una notevole attenzione: tra i brani proposti era infatti presente un vecchio articolo del Guardian in cui viene descritto positivamente il Lago d’Orta. Tanto che il presidente del Distretto Turistico dei Laghi, Monti e Valli, Antonio Longo Dorni, ha detto soddisfatto: “E’ una scelta di cui siamo orgogliosi e una conferma della grande notorietà a livello internazionale della nostra destinazione, frutto di anni di lavoro e di relazioni con i media di mezzo mondo”.
Testo turistico – lingua inglese
Orta: the Italian lake tourists haven’t discovered
Answers to the questions
1) Lake Orta doesn’t show off much even if it is enchanting: for this reason it is called “La Cenerentola” by the Milanese
2) The writer of the article likes this lake because there is an atmosphere of mystery and spiritual perfection all over the place.
3) The way the surrounding nature interacts with the water enhancing the beauty of the place is what the author of the article calls the “intimate drama “ of the lake’s setting.
4) The light changes during the day from sunrise to sunset. The lake is dark and foggy early in the morning; at midday it is sunny and clear; late in the afternoon it gets gloomy.
5) In Orta San Giulio you can see the Chiesa dell’Assunta, which overlooks the village. The town hall deserves the attention of the tourist and, if you walk along the beautiful streets of the centre, you will find wonderful examples of baroque architecture.
6) Most hotels are family run, so you don’t always have perfect service. But, on the other hand, they are cheap.
7) If you enter the Basilica on Isola San Giulio you can admire a serpentine marble carved pulpit dating back to the 12th century.
8) The view from Sacro Monte is breath-taking and it is worth getting to the top of the hill to enjoy it.
Summary
There are a number of lakes in northern Italy. Some, like Como and Maggiore, are very well known. Lake Orta is not as famous as these two and visitors who go there wish to preserve the quality of its beauty and don’t talk much about it. They fear the presence of too many people might spoil the magic of the lake.
In fact, apart from the natural charm of the place, it is the fascinating atmosphere to strike tourists with awe. The lake appears very different in different moments of the day and with different weather but its beauty is always mesmerizing. The wonderful buildings on the slope of Sacro Monte in Orta San Giulio contribute to the magic. The top of the hill, with its woods and gardens, is now a national park. The view from Sacro Monte is unique. Isola San Giulio is worth visiting as well because of the beautiful villas and the flowers that grow everywhere. The Benedictine monastery and the fantastic Romanesque Basilica offer art and sculpture in a gorgeous setting.
(175 words)
Composition
If your visit to northern Italy includes a couple of days in Milan you may want to squeeze in a trip to one of the many lakes. We suggest you leave out the bigger ones and choose lake Orta. This precious jewel of the north hasn’t been discovered by mass tourism yet. You can be some of the happy few to enjoy its enchanting atmosphere, gorgeous views and famous heritage. The secret of its magic is the perfect blending of art and nature.
All year round we organize trips to lake Orta for groups of British tourists. The groups ( maximum 7 people per group ) are accompanied by English speaking guides. Our trips start daily from Corso Sempione 2, at 8.00 am, and the only thing you have to do is call 02 523 521 the day before to book for your group. The trip can be organised in different ways according to your particular needs and wishes.
This is a typical day with us: We’ll start at 8.00 am from Milan, Corso Sempione 2. At 9.00 am, after one hour trip on a comfortable minibus, we’ll reach Orta San Giulio, a gorgeous little town built on the slope of Sacro Monte. We’ll have a delicious breakfast in a nice café overlooking the lake and while we bite into a crunchy croissant and sip our “cappuccino” watching the mountains the guide will explain the program of the day.
We will then walk along the narrow streets admiring the beautiful baroque buildings until we get to the square where the Town Hall stands proudly on graceful columns, a place the gods might choose for a rest! Continuing our walk we will reach the Chiesa dell’Assunta, which, in the morning light, will appear to us in all its splendour. After that we will have one hour time on our own to explore more, take pictures, shop or drink a second cappuccino before embarking for Isola San Giulio at 12.00 am from pier 2.
Arriving there we’ll have lunch in one of the most romantic restaurants of the island. We’ll be able to taste some of the typical dishes and wines of the region enjoying the peace of the restaurant’s patio. After lunch there will be time to walk around or rest in the other beautiful gardens on the shore before visiting the Benedictine monastery, where we’ll meet at 4.00 pm. Lovers of art and sculpture will be overwhelmed by the interior of the Basilica: in particular we’ll admire the marble pulpit and its carvings. A detail that will interest our British visitors: the pulpit shows figures which are said to be influenced by Saxon carvings. Something we can find only here. At 5.30 pm the boat will sail back to Orta San Giulio for the final part of our day together. As the bus to Milan will leave at 8.00 pm we’ll have plenty of time to buy some souvenirs or to sit in a café . For those who love nature and are not afraid of walking we suggest climbing the top of Sacro Monte. The view of the lake in the sunset light from there is simply breath-taking!
(Bianca Grossi)