The best traffic-free bike rides around Carpignano Sesia

The Castello di Barengo stands on a hill behind the town, in an elevated position overlooking the surrounding plain, along the road that originally connected the Via Francigena with the fords on the Sesia river. The original fifteenth-century structure has undergone numerous modifications and alterations over the centuries, and was already partially in ruins at the beginning of the nineteenth century. In 1849, the fortress underwent a restoration that altered its original layout. In the aftermath of the First World War, the property passed to Count Gaudenzio Tornielli di Borgolavezzaro, who commissioned the architect Carlo Nigra to reconstruct the complex according to the stylistic canons of the Middle Ages. Further restorations were subsequently carried out by the Boroli family, the current owners. Despite the reconstructions, however, there remain several testimonies of the original construction, such as the walls of the stands, the foundations and some entrance doors.

Domenico Piemontesi, known as the "Boca Cyclone," was born in 1903 and raced professionally from 1922 to 1938. During his career, he won eleven stages in the Giro d'Italia out of twelve editions, and in 1927 he took third place at the World Championships, sharing the podium with cycling legends such as Alfredo Binda and Costante Girardengo. He also achieved first-place finishes in the Giro di Lombardia (1933), the Giro della Provincia di Milano (1934), the Tre Valli Varesine (1922), the Giro dell'Emilia, and the Milano-Modena (both 1927). He participated in the Tour de France twice, but withdrew both times before the finish. He passed away in 1987. Ermanno Vallazza raced professionally. Born in 1899, he became Italian amateur champion in 1923. His professional career began the following year. In 1926, he won the Placci Cup and participated in every Giro d'Italia between 1924 and 1929.

Beautiful panorama with Monte Rosa in the background

Romagnano Sesia, a town of about 3,500 inhabitants in the province of Novara, is the production site of the DOCG Ghemme wine and boasts several monuments and places of interest. Examples are the Cantina dei Santi, what remains of the ancient Benedictine abbey of San Silano, and the Torre del Pretorio.

It is always a pleasure to cycle along rivers or streams… the silence and the sound of the flowing water alone make the walk worthwhile.

Climb on asphalt towards the Torre delle Castelle for a panoramic view of Gattinara and the plain

it is located parallel to the road that goes from Romagnano to Ghemme and in ancient times here you have to imagine that there was a plain with the Castellazzo both this fortification and fortified farmhouse I don't know well and the little church of San Martino in Berclema

These are the new signs that have been placed following the Interreg project "cycling on the surface of the water". The Via Pedemontana and the regional route number 10 and the Via del Mare which is the regional route number 4 are signposted. The intersections are also signposted, in fact, as you can see, the sign is signposted there at number 26 which is the motorway with its adjoining car park if one wants to leave when