What to see in Vercelli in half a day
If you are in Turin, but with my audio guide you have already visited it all and you are looking for a destination outside the classic tourist circuits, that allows you to immerse yourself in the most authentic Piedmont, read on, this post is just for you.
When the guests of my tours ask me to suggest a day trip departing from Turin, I suggest Vercelli. First of all because in Vercelli lately there are always very interesting exhibitions (such as that of Marc Chagall, for example) and secondly because it is certainly a way of getting to know Piedmont that few have had the pleasure of experiencing.
So, if I have convinced you and you have decided to embark on this original adventure, here are my tips on what to see in Vercelli.
The symbol of the city
If you arrive in Vercelli by train, you cannot miss the Basilica of Sant’Andrea, on the way from the station to the center (or, if you went there for an exhibition, to the Spazio ARCA). Its gabled façade with the rose window and the three very accentuated splayed portals certainly do not go unnoticed.
This basilica was built between 1219 and 1227 (only eight years!) and is considered the first Gothic church in Italy, and, certainly, first also in northern Italy and Piedmont. But in addition to admiring the beauty of the facade and the complex, I recommend taking the time to enter to enjoy a huge Latin cross basilica where Romanesque and Gothic elements dialogue with elegance and sobriety. The walls seem bare to us, but they are typical of French Cistercian religious buildings, from where inspiration was certainly drawn. The decorative apparatus of the three naves separated by bundles of columns, the pointed arches and the ribbed cross vaults is made up of the chromatic alternation achieved by the use of different materials: the red of the brick, the white of the marble and the grey of the Varallo stone (town in the surroundings).
The Sistine Chapel of Vercelli and beyond
Not far from here, I suggest you visit the Church of San Bernardo, a delightful Romanesque-style gem, which is actually the only church in the city that has preserved its original Romanesque appearance intact.
From here, you can reach the main square, Piazza Cavour, with a statue dedicated to the 19th-century statesman who revolutionized the irrigation system of this area of Piedmont by building the Cavour Canal, thus improving the conditions of rice farmers. The square stands in the seat of the ancient Roman forum and maintains a medieval appearance; here you will also see a beautiful tower rising which is the Angel’s Tower.
Last stop, absolutely not to be missed in Vercelli is the so-called Sistine Chapel of Vercelli. I’m talking about the Church of San Cristoforo, a Renaissance church entirely decorated inside with fresco cycles created by Gaudenzio Ferrari, the most illustrious Piedmontese Renaissance artist (who was originally from Valduggia, a town in the province of Vercelli).
The frescoes you’ll appreciate in this church are stories of Mary Magdalene, stories of the Virgin Mary, the Crucifixion, and the Assumption of the Virgin; Gaudenzio Ferrari also created the altarpiece, popularly called the Madonna degli Aranci, although the tree depicted is actually a quince apple (and not an orange tree).
If you still have time and desire to discover, visit the Cathedral of St. Eusebius and the Archbishop’s Seminary, the Jewish Temple and the Burgundy Museum.
In short, with the rice fields in the background of the train journey-if you go in spring, you’ll find yourself crossing our sea in squares-and the discovery of a city with ancient origins and notable artists, I’ve created an excellent way to spend a beautiful Piedmontese day. Happy discovery!