Quick Guide to Vercelli, Piedmont

Published June 25, 2010 at 12:03 p.m.


Vercelli, Vercellae in Latin, is the capital city of the province of Vercelli in eastern Piedmont and one of the oldest towns in Northern Italy. Founded in 600 BC, it was the first city in Piedmont to have an administrative structure. The seat of Piedmont's first University in 1228, the town passed to the Visconti of Milan in 1335, and to the house of Savoy in 1427. French and Spanish occupation followed until it rejoined the rest of Piedmont as part of the Savoy domains in 1704.

Today, Vercelli sits at the centre of Italy's rice bowl, producing around 100 varieties and 80% of Europe's rice, an important town with a long history. An easy and almost tourist free city to explore, especially on foot, as the important places to visit are all centrally located. There are several buildings of artistic importance, many churches contain valuable paintings and there is now 'Arca', a new exhibition centre for the visual arts.

Vercelli on Google Maps

Vercelli Must Do - Ten Top Tips:

1) See the Basilica di Sant'Andrea, erected in 1219, one of the most best preserved Romanesque buildings in Italy.
2) Visit the Cathedral of St Eusebio and see the Codex Vercellensis, a late 10th century Anglo-Saxon manuscript in the library.
3) Admire the two main towers in the town, the Torre dell’Angelo and the Torre di Città in Via Gioberti.
4) Visit the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, the first Christian church built in Vercelli in the 4th century.
5) See the amazing colletion of incunabula, early printed books, and other works of art at the Camillo Leone Museum
6) Visit the churches of St. Paolo, St. Caterina and St. Cristoforo for valuable examples of the work of Gaudenzio Ferrari.
7) Enjoy a coffee or apertivo at Pasticceria Taverna e Tarnuzzer, Vercelli's most famous pastry and sweet shop since 1889.
8) Visit the Institute of the Beaux-Arts, containing paintings by Vercellese artists.
9) Visit the Borgogna Museum with its fine collection of Renaissance paintings.
10) Take time out to visit one of the many rice farms just outside Vercelli to get an insight and taste into the local produce.

Photo & Text: © Italian Reflections from Casa Dolcetto 2010


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