Novara is an attractive Piedmontese city with noble historical, cultural and artistic traditions that boasts a heritage of great importance, located at the crossroads of very important commercial nodes that unite metropolises of great name such as Milan, Turin and Genoa, lying on the banks of the Terdoppio and Agogna streams that furrow the city outskirts with their course.
This active centre of Eastern Piedmont had a very important past since its foundation in Roman times when it was called "Nova Aria" from which the current name derives and subsequently consolidated in importance as the second municipality in the region during the era of the Kingdom of the House of Savoy.
To visit Novara, I recommend starting the visit from the refined Palazzo Bellini, now home to the divisions of Banco Popolare di Novara and Banco Popolare. The building's profile, architectural details such as numerous symmetrical windows inserted in a large stylized façade with an arched portal corresponding to the main entrance, elegant silhouette and tone closely resembles many typical Savoy buildings.
The palace was renovated between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and included in its interiors where a magnificent rococo style stands out and now houses a museum with rooms full of valuable paintings and a beautiful collection of Sicilian corals.
Continuation with the imposing Basilica of San Gaudenzio, undoubtedly the most representative monument of Novara erected between 500 and 600 with as a special highlight its extraordinary neoclassical dome that reaches a height of 121.0 meters.
Designed by the architect Alessandro Antonelli, well known for the construction of the famous Mole Antonelliana, symbol of Turin, this amazing religious building was added to the ecclesiastical complex in the nineteenth century.
Visiting the interiors you will be able to admire the majestic nave and the highly decorated central altar, the shuttle and the six chapels containing numerous frescoes masterpieces by illustrious artists such as Gaudenzio Ferrari, Bernardino Lanino, Giovan Battista Della Rovere and Paolo Camillo Landriani.
Continuing the visit we will stop in front of the beautiful Baroque Bell Tower, a wonderful work by Benedetto Alfieri that boasts a height of 75.0 meters and inside the Church below you can admire the magnificent Polyptych made by the talented painter Gaudenzio Ferrari.
You can reach easily the nearby Baptistery, the oldest building in the city built between the fourth and fifth centuries, developed on an octagonal plan, this other architectural masterpiece is accessible through beautiful porticoes formed by a wonderful colonnade in Piazza Repubblica.
Inside there are traces of ancient frescoes, a cylindrical well from the Middle Ages and beautiful floral mosaics that cover one of the walls.
Very close is the iconic Broletto, a medieval architectural complex of extraordinary charm that brings together in its very eclectic profile four palaces elevated in different periods, namely the Municipality of Paratici, the Podestà and the Referendari that surround the beautiful Arengo, with a very large courtyard surrounded by refined porticoes with a suggestive well located in the north-east wing.
This splendid historic centre now houses the Gallery of Modern Art and is also known as the site of the celebrations on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy.
Continue along Via dei Gautieri where stands the beautiful Church of San Marco dating back to the seventeenth century designed by the Barnabite architect Ferrari. Inside you can admire wonderful works of art such as fine stuccoes, fine polished red marbles, patinated woods, splendid paintings and refined canvases made by artists of the Lombard-Piedmontese school.
Afterwards you will reach theCas tello Visconteo-Sforzesco although of the original fortress only a crenellated tower called "Rocchetta" and a section of the wall of the fief that was one of the strongholds of the Duchy of Milan in medieval times remains.
Your visit can continue by entering Piazza Gramsci, a large urban space where the Church of San Pietro al Rosario stands with its beautiful Baroque façade embellished with four statues, two of which depict St. Peter and Pope Pius V.
The basilica-shaped interior boasts beautiful arches, refined columns with gilded Corinthian capitals and six beautifully frescoed chapels.
The visit can be concluded with Casa della Porta, a beautiful building dating back to 900 although considerably reformed in the 14th century in which you can observe some noble coats of arms that stand out set between the windows of a paret, one of which depicts the Biscione, emblem of the Visconti Duchy of Milan.
Time for your lunch after this historical-cultural visit, Novara offers a gastronomic panorama of relevance, if you want to taste something traditional I suggest you start with an appetizer based on Fideghina, Prosciutto Cotto and Salamin d' la Duja,
Among the first courses, as typical local options, the well-known Paniscia or, alternatively, Gnocchetti with Gorgonzola, while among the second courses a choice between Rustida di Pork or Tapulone di Manzo, both served with a side of fresh vegetables.
The province of Novara has
a great tradition in terms of wines and to accompany your lunch we highly
recommend excellent wines such as Ghemme, Sizzano and Fara among others.
After lunch, enjoy a pleasant walk in the historic center which offers many local craft and food shops with various typical local products.
Novara is a city that should be discovered and enjoyed and certainly for its charm it will be an experience not to be forgotten and kept with pleasure in your travel diary.
https://www.comune.novara.it/it/home
Where to Stay | Recommended Hotels
Hotel Cavour - https://www.hotelcavournovara.com/en/
Bella Italia Palace Hotel - https://bellaitaliahotel.com/
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