Rimella charming, mountain village in the province of Vercelli, in Piedmont located at an altitude of 1176.0 meters in the Alta Valsesia in one of its side valleys, the suggestive Val Mastallone crossed by the stream of the same name and its tributary Landwasser.
Among fairytale mountains, unspoiled woods and green pastures, this tiny municipality was founded in medieval times by a group of Walsers who in the twelfth century from the Swiss Oberland, in the Canton of Bern, reached this territory included in the Alta Valsesia Natural Park.
Today's descendants have maintained the traditions of their ancestors such as customs, crafts and above all the language, the "Titsch" belonging to the Germanic linguistic group linked to the Upper Alemanno also calling the country Remalliu.
This small town famous for its inforgettable landscapes mountain walks, trekking and mountaineering is also well kniown for its remarkable historical and artistic heritage and the production of an excellent level of goat cheese, the absolute pride of this Piedmontese territory.
Once in Rimella you can enjoy the unforgettable local landscapes and a wonderful view of the second peak of the Alps, the majestic Monte Rosa.
Entering the picturesque village that stands on a picturesque mountain slope, taking a walk through the charming local streets flanked by beautifully decorated stone and wooden houses, you can reach the splendid Parish Church of San Michele Arcangelo.
This religious building dating back to the seventeenth century erected in a refined Baroque style typical of the eighteenth century in this area with Juvarrian lines linked to the great architect Filippo Juvarra known for his excellent works in the courts of the Savoy Kingdoms, Spain and Portugal and flanked by a wonderful bell tower that dominates the entire town.
The interior with a nave has an ovoid plan, four side chapels and with the original altars dedicated to St. John the Baptist, St. Rocco, the Madonna del Rosario and the Madonna del Carmine and a high altar in the center of the presbytery of pyramidal shape built between 1580 and 1590 with paintings by Michele and Francesco Cusa and in the apse a painting by Giuseppe Gaudenzio Mazzola depicting the Victory of San Muchele on Lucifer.
Of great importance is a chapel that houses the relics of Santa Gioconda extracted from the Catacombs of Rome, 14 gilded wooden statues with bas-reliefs placed in the choir stalls and hung along the walls, and wonderful frescoes by Lorenzo Peracino, Giuseppe De Dominicis, Gambini on the vault of the Chapel of San Rocco and a significant organ manufactured in 1862.
The Baptistery is another highlight consisting of a stone basin and a wooden box composed of carved and gilded tiles on a blue background that narrate stages in the life and story of St. John the Baptist, a work attributed to Antonio Fontana.
Afterwards you can admire the nearby Filippa Museum set up in 1836 by the Napoleonic soldier Giovan Battista Filippa, a native of Rimella, who had the desire to create in his hometown an exhibition dedicated to curiosities, antiquities, history and preserving local cultural documentation that testify to daily life in this corner of Vercelli.
Continuation with the Ecomuseum of Valsesia housed in a beautiful Walser house, a building that includes the Library and the Study Center, an excellent opportunity to come into direct contact with the territorial description and its main natural, historical and architectural beauties.
I then recommend reaching the hamlet of San Gottardo, a very small but fascinating inhabited center at the foot of the Alps characterized by the picturesque charm of Walser architecture and its church with a beautiful bell tower.
This place historically became famous for funeral processions in the 1600s with the inhabitants of Campello Monti residing on the other mountainous side of the valley reached the church since 1551 for lack of their own in their territorial terms.
Then I suggest visiting a local zzienda that produces the famous Caprino di Rimella, pride of the dairy industry of the entire Valsesia, a superlative cheese created from raw goat's milk, an animal that feeds exclusively on local fodder.
The process after milking consists of bringing the liquid to a temperature between 18 and 20 degrees before entering the natural acidification phase.
In its preparation the use of calf rennet is generally envisaged, while for wheels that will have a longer seasoning, lamb rennet will be used, which will give the finished product a greater flavor and spiciness after about 50 days.
The mass will be left to coagulate very slowly and then the curdling will be placed intact in tiles.
In the event of breakage, the future cheese will be shaped manually by giving it a rounded shape and placing it on hemp sheets waiting 72 hours and then moving on to the dry salting phase and then ready for consumption.
A traditional wheel of Caprino di Rimella has a flat face with a cylindrical profile and generally has a weight that can vary between 200 and 300 grams, a diameter that measures between 8.0 and 9.0 centimeters and a thickness that is around 2.0 / .3.0 centimeters, dimensions that are very faithful to ancient traditions.
A very fresh goat's cheese has a thin rind with a whitish hue with shades tending to brown, while a form with advanced maturation has a brownish color.
In a cut you can verify the softness of the pasta that makes Caprino di Rimella an excellent product to spread, ideal for sandwiches, toasted accompaniments, snacks, stringy on pasta, polenta, used in combination for sauces and much more.
Then time for your lunch, I recommend remaining in the typical local gastronomy first courses to choose between Risotto with Porcini Mushrooms or Tortelli with Herbs, options among the second courses between Chicken Cacciatora or Stewed Mnzo Stew both accompanied by slices of toasted Polenta.
A visit to Rimella is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the unique landscapes of the Upper Valsesia dominated by alpine peaks of great charm including the imposing Monte Rosa, a relevant historical heritage, an unspoiled natural environment, excellent gastronomy and the chance to discover the delicious Caprino di Rimella, an authentic delicacy of this territory of the Piedmont region.
Link - https://www.comune.rimella.vc.it/
Where to Stay | Recommended Accommodation
Walser House
Casa Gemma
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