The beautiful Vercelli, a city with an ancient history located in a vast plain north-east of the Po on the right bank of the Sesia river in the eastern Piedmont, part of a territory where the dense presence of rice paddies stands out, which have contributed to giving this center the title of "European Capital of Rice”.
This famous activity flanked by others with the fertilizer sectors,agricultural and food machinery which also occupy important positions in the local economy.
A very active commercial town, with remarkable development also from an artistic and cultural point of view, chronological stages that have left very visible traces in the historical heritage present in its urban heart. which surprises every visitor with its magnificent architectural treasures, which are very numerous.
Vercelli has a centuries-old history as a Celtic and Roman settlement in the first century BC and later became in the Middle Ages a destination of many artists who embellished its boundaries and today showing the visitor its superb, historic beauty.
I suggest starting the visit with the symbolic monument of Vercelli, that is the extraordinary Basilica of Sant' Andrea, an authentic medieval masterpiece in Romanesque-Gothic style that brings together in its profile all the architectural gems of that period in terms of concepts, canons faithful to the order of the elements, materials used and above all creativity and refinement.
This masterpiece erected in 1219 at the behest of Cardinal Guala Bicchieri has a beautiful façade with three portals and sculpted Romanesque lunettes, a wonderful central rose window, two beautiful galleries and incomparable sculptural groups made by the genius Benedetto Antelami.
This architectural richness is enclosed between two imposing Gothic towers and an isolated bell tower raised between the 14th and 15th centuries, elements that complete the simply divine exteriors.
The interior is developed in the shape of a Latin cross with three naves where you can admire various works of art among which stand out a beautiful 15th century polychrome wooden crucifix and a magnificent inlaid wooden choir of the 500s.
Continuation with the beautiful adjacent Cistercian Abbey complex built in the same period, although the extraordinary rectangular cloister embellished with decorations of the 600s, the sacristy, the parlor hall and the chapter house with nine bays that preserves an impressive fresco attributed to the great artist Bernardino Lanino remain of the original body.
Along Via Bicheri, an important urban artery, stands the Cathedral of Sant'Eusebio located in an attractive square of the same name, erected on the site where an early Christian Basilica of the fifth century previously stood.
This imposing cathedral of neoclassical architecture was built in different phases. The apse and presbytery date back to the late 16th century , while the rear body was added in 1800 and the large dome in 1860.
The refined façade was masterfully executed by the architect Benedetto Alfieri and only the bell tower represents the element of the original building.
You will be able to appreciate in the Latin cross interior numerous jewels of art in the chapels and works of immense value by illustrious artists such as Gandolfi, Guava and Garove.
In the immediate vicinity stands the beautiful Archbishop's Palace, a medieval building dating back to the twelfth century, although over time it has undergone reforms and significant architectural changes in 1452, acquiring Gothic forms since then.Inside you can appreciate a rich collection of works by artists of the Piedmontese school.
Afterwards through the elegant Piazza d'Angenes you will reach the Treasure of the Cathedral is located, a museum containing various, excellent works by Lombard and Piedmontese painters next to furnishings of the Cathedral, some of them manufactured in the VIII century.
In a pleasant walk you can reach to the Visconti Castle, now the seat of the Court, a fortress built by order of Duke Matteo Visconti in 1290 of which only a massive quadrangular tower remains as a survivor of the original structure.
Near the central Corso della Libertà you can visit the beautiful seventeenth-century church dedicated to St. Christopher with a valuable cycle of frescoes of the 17th century by Gaudenzio Ferrari.
Not far is the central and fascinating Piazza Cavour, the nerve center and "living room" of Vercelli developed in the place that occupied the Roman Forum in ancient times .
This fascinating medieval urban space is surrounded by porticoes and beautiful buildings, encloses in its surface the historic Torre dell' Angelo, an imposing construction erected between 1300 and 1500 on a quadrangular plan and octagonal body.
A short distance away is situated the beautiful square of the "Palazzo Vecchio" also known as "Piazza dei Pesci" closed on one side by the Broletto and on the other by the City Tower with a beautiful, monumental circular fountain in the center.
Time for your lunch, I recommend to stay in the local gastronomic field an appetizer based on mixed cold cuts, Paniscia Vercellese or Agnolotti with Braised Meat among the first courses, among the second courses Baked Pork Knuckle with vegetables or Boiled Beef in Green Sauce.
After lunch, in the immediate vicinity you can enter the old Jewish Ghetto of Vercelli where stands the nineteenth-century Synagogue designed by the architect Giuseppe Locarni, a building with a large sandstone façade with two-tone bands.
From there you can admire the nearby Torre dei Tizzoni dating back to 1400, developed on an octagonal plan, characterized by large windows and beautiful decorative elements in terracotta.
Continuation with the famous Francesco Borgogna Museum, the richest art exhibition in Piedmont after the Savoy Gallery in Turin with the great opportunity to admire wonderful masterpieces by great artists such as Titian, Luini, Ferrari, Carracci, a superlative collection of Italian painting from the 15th to the 20th century and a European one of the '800.
The visit to Vercelli can be considered over, this city of Piedmont will surely fascinate you for its great historic and artistic heritage and in many cases it will be a happy goodbye with the desire to return in the future.
Link : https://www.italia.it/en/piedmont/vercelli
Where to Stay | Recommended Accomodation
Vercelli Palace Hotel
Hotel Garibaldi
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Thanks a lot to read and note.