Vercelli | Historic Beauty of Eastern Piedmont

 

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

Ramada by Windham Gorakphur Gorakhnath Mandir Road – India | Opening Announced

 

Ramada by Windham Gorakphur Gorakhnath Mandir Road – India | Opening Announced

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts today announced the opening of the Ramada by Windham Gorakphur Gorakhnath Mandir Road Hotel.

The American Hospitality Company, based in Parsipanny- Troy -Hills New Jersey, marks the fifty-ninth hotel in India and the seventh in the state of Uttar, a northern territory bordering Nepal.

The hotel is located 14 kilometres from Mahayogi Gorakhnath Airport and 6 kilometres from Gorakhpur Junction Railway Station with easy access to the city centre, Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority, Hindustan Uravak & Rasayan Limited and other attractions such as Ramgarh Taal Lake and Goraknath Temple.

The hotel provides 56 rooms equipped with all services, furnished with taste and style, spacious, welcoming, with a modern design.

Guests have access to a bar/lounge, a Monarch Restaurant with a range of North and Southern Indian cuisine and Awadhi Cuisine, an outdoor pool and a fitness centre. WiFi in the lobby, Tour tickets assistance and babysitting service.

Link : https://www.hospitalitynet.org/announcement/41011189/ramada-by-wyndham-gorakhpur-gorakhnath-mandir-road.html

Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso | Distinctive Lake Maggiore Landmark

 

The iconic Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso located on the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore in the municipality of Leggiuno in the province of Varese is one of the most evocative, fascinating and historic places in the entire Verbano area.

Located in a beautiful position, to say the least, this medieval monastery is located perched on a rocky spur overlooking the lake basin where the waters reach a depth of 313.0 meters, overlooking an extraordinary bend towards the Borromean Archipelago in front of Stresa and with a beautiful panoramic view to the south of Belgirate and Lesa.

The chronological phases of this distinctive Lake Maggiore landmark that gave rise to its construction began with a shipwreck of the Blessed Alberto Besozzi, a merchant from Arolo who found refuge by saving himself in front of a cave on which in 1170 the Hermitage was built with its consequent ascetic existence.

Alberto Besozzi, after a vow of penance, decided to dedicate his life to becoming a hermit and a faithful religious, famous for having rescued various inhabitants of his native Arolo, a hamlet of Leggiuno, from a spread of plague and known for having ordered the construction of a reliquary very similar to the one built on the legendary Mount Sinai that preserved the remains of St. Catherine of Alexandria.

This gentleman who was beatified died in 1205, his body was buried in the rocky carving on the side of the Hermitage of Santa Caterina which became a few years later between 1230 and 1250 a frequent destination of pilgrimages especially when the Monastic Order of the Dominicans made the monastery official acquiring further importance in 1270 with the construction of the Chapel of Santa Maria Nova it was later enlarged with the construction of the small Church of St. Nicholas.

At the beginning of the 14th century, the Dominican Friars gave the management of the Cenobio to the Confraternity of the Ambrosian Hermits, a period in which other buildings were developed and in 1670 replaced by the Carmelite Friars of Mantua.

In 1770 the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso was closed  and gradually declined, it was necessary to wait until 1970 to begin restoration work and above all works were carried out that saved the artistic and architectural heritage that was gradually showing considerable signs of wear and decay.

The patrimonial preservation operations continued for a long time and in 1992 some very important frescoes from the 300 were  discovered, which were practically unknown at the time.

In 1986 there was the return of the Dominican Order and Santa Caterina del Sasso returned to being a site dedicated to spirituality.

The Hermitage or Monastery can be reached through two specific points, namely from the square above the complex with a staircase of 240 steps or by reaching via the lake from a staircase of 80 steps and the complex is divided by three buildings close to an impervious rocky wall.

I suggest starting the visit from the southern sector of the complex where the Convent is located, where the ancient refectory and a small shop for the sale of handicrafts  are located.

Continuation by reaching a courtyard where there is a wooden press that testifies to the processing activity related to the agricultural activity inside this wonderful Hermitage and you will then find in front of a small second Convent, a place occupied by the Monks.

From this point you can get to the Church which covers the largest section in terms of surface with a beautiful façade of Renaissance matrix enlivened by an extraordinary portico formed by round arches where a magnificent cycle of frescoes attributed to one of the sons of the great artist Bernardino Luini stands out.

In the Church you can admire the Sacellum,  the oldest section of the nucleus developed in 1195 with the same dimensions as the Sepulchre of St. Catherine on Mount Sinai, above a large window there is a fresco depicting the transport of the Saint with Angels and others dating back to the sixteenth century.

On a frescoed vault we can see a sunburst with the image of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, this is the exact site where the remains of Blessed Alberto Besozzi were placed, with a further fresco reproducing his image executed in 1892.

 Other important works are frescoes depicting St. Catherine, Christ and Biblical scenes, a Neapolitan organ made in the late eighteenth century by Antonio Domenico Rossi and a statue of the Virgin Mary and Child dating back to the seventeenth century.

Afterwards you can admire the Bell Tower which boasts a height of about 15.0 meters built in the fourteenth century which was originally the bell tower of the Church of St. Nicholas with an entrance now walled up and in modern times accessible through the Renaissance portico and at this point the visit ends.

The Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso was  a protagonist in the cinema industry, filmed in images in  the movie by Dino Risi La Stanza del Vescovo produced in 1977 and in the television drama "The Betrothed" directed by Salvatore Nocita in 1989, representing the Convent where Fra Cristoforo  resided, despite the fact that the novel by Alessandro Manzoni was set on Lake Como.

At the end of the visit, time for your lunch in a restaurant in Leggiuno, I recommend about traditional dishes Tagliatelle with Cream and Ham or Risotto with Herbs, among the main courses Trout in Foil with Boiled Potatoes Marinated in Rosemary or Grilled Chicken Breast with Cantello Asparagus browned in Butter and Vinegar.

A visit to Santa Caterina del Sasso is a must if you visit the Maggiore area, an absolute landmark that will remain etched in your memories for its scenic beauty and for the historical meanings that have made it so famous and evocative.

 

Link : http://www.santacaterinadelsasso.com/

Where to Stay | Recommended Accomodation

Tina Yellow Home

Cascina Riva

Dolce by Windham Barcelona Resort - Spain | Scheduled Opening for August 2024

 

Dolce Hotels & Resorts announces its return to Spain and specifically to the capital of Catalonia Barcelona with an opening set for August 2024. 

Denominated as Dolce by Windham Barcelona Resort is located just 30 minutes drive from El Prat International Airport, in a magnificent natural area surrounded by the famous vineyards of El Penedes, within easy reach of prestigious Bodegas to taste local wines and with views of the scenic mountains of Montserrat not far from important destinations such as Sitges and Igualada.

Classified in the 4****Sup category, the hotel will provide 150 rooms and suites equipped with all services, welcoming, bright and spacious, with surfaces between 34 and 70 square meters.

The eclectic and modern interior design blends with the Mediterranean tones of Barcelona with modernist style facades and will have a green certificate for energy efficiency.

The property is next to one of the 27-hole golf courses in Europe, included in the Top 100 World Championship designed by the Spanish champion Jose Maria Olazabal and with a golf academy.

 Other services available for sports activities, padel courts and pickleball and the proximity to the Montmelo Racetrack are certainly excellent incentives for sports lovers.

 Link :  https://www.hospitalitynet.org/announcement/41011188/dolce-by-wyndham-barcelona-resort.html