Poetry on the Lake is the event founded in 2001 by the director and organizer Gabriel Griffin,[1] the seat is on Isola di San Giulio.
Annual events include the spring international poetry competition (prizes are donated by Alessi[3]) and the autumn celebration[4] described by the British Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy on the South Bank Show, ITV, 6 December 2009 as: "...perhaps the smallest but possibly the most perfect poetry festival in the world".
Events take place on the island, in the square of Orta, on Sacro Monte in the woods around the chapels,[5] in the historic palaces (Palazzo Ubertini, Villa Bossi) on board ship ('una barca di poeti'- a poetic cruise),[6] in the neighbouring towns and villages: Omegna,[7] Orta, Pella, Varallo, Invorio and Ameno.
Poetry events: competition, readings, workshops, discussions, dance[8] and music that take place on and around Lake Orta in the foothills of the Alps.
[10] Poetry on the Lake is the only celebration in a guide book to Italy (The Purple Guide to Piedmont and North Italy) also featured in: The South Bank Show, 6 December 2009, Channel One, ITV Other TV transmissions featuring Poetry on the Lake: MagicaItalia (Rai 1, May 2011) and Mixitalia (Rai 1, May 2012).