Isola San Giulio is dominated at its south end by the 12th-century Basilica di San Giulio, which is full of vibrant frescoes that alone make a trip to the island worthwhile. The church, island and mainland town are named after a Greek evangelist, Giulio, who’s said to have rid the island of snakes, dragons and assorted monsters in the late 4th century. Regular ferries shuttle between the island and Orta San Giulio
