Vercelli is one of the cities in Piedmont that are the richest in art, culture and traditions, a place to discover!
Its historic center, with the beautiful Piazza Cavour, is the perfect place for a stroll among medieval towers and aristocratic buildings and to taste the typical dishes of the local tradition.
Walking through the streets of the center you will come across majestic churches, extraordinary museums and charming historic alleys. Among the points of interest that are absolute musts, we can mention Saint Andrew’s Abbey, a masterpiece of Gothic-Romanesque architecture, the church of Saint Christopher with its Gaudenzian frescoes and the imposing Cathedral and the adjacent Museum of Cathedral Treasures.
Real gems are the Francesco Borgogna House Museum, the historical Leone Museum and the Archaeological Museum.
The capital of rice
Vercelli is also the land of rice! The fields are flooded between March and April, to then be sown. The water, left in the fields until the beginning of ripening, gives them the classic appearance of a "checkerboard sea", as defined by the Italian writer, Sebastiano Vassalli.
Therefore, it is impossible to visit Vercelli without tasting the traditional dish par excellence, the panissa, a tasty dish made with rice and beans.
Vercelli also represents the ideal place to set out on a discovery of the lands of rice which can be traveled by bicycle along the Risaie Ciclabili (Rice Paddy Cycling Trail); those who love walking, on the other hand, can walk along a stretch of the Via Francigena, an ancient trail of faith that has crossed the city since the Middle Ages, an alternative way to discover the richness of this territory.
Valsesia
To enjoy unspoiled nature, breathtaking landscapes and green valleys crossed by crystalline streams, just head towards the Upper Valsesia.
Varallo with its Sacred Mountain – UNESCO World Heritage Site and Alagna Valsesia, an enchanting hamlet at the foot of Mount Rosa, are mandatory stops for lovers of summer and winter sports.
The magnificent natural sceneries protected by the Upper Valsesia Nature Park offer the visitor wonderful views and a sense of peace and harmony.
Furthermore, lovers of water sports will find the opportunity to practice rafting, kayaking, hydrospeeding and canyoning in the Sesia river from April until late September.
An incredible variety of museums and historic hamlets awaits you in Lower Valsesia, dotted with Parish churches, Sanctuaries and Churches that conceal precious works of art
One of the most interesting places in Lower Valsesia is Mount Fenera which rises near Borgosesia and Valduggia. The Mountain, part of the nature park of the same name, is crossed by numerous paths and is full of spectacular karst caves.
