The best road cycling routes around Mandello Vitta

It originally dates back to the 14th century, although over the centuries it has been expanded and remodeled.

Patronage dedicated to Saint Charles is relatively rare worldwide.

The Parish Church of San Bernardo in Prato Sesia is an ancient basilica-style building with three naves, located in the Novara area.

The oratory of San Carlo in Prato Sesia was built in the 17th century out of devotion by the inhabitants of Prato Nuovo, who were unable to reach the parish church due to the flooding of the Roccia stream.

The Abbey of San Nazzaro Sesia is a complex made up of structures from different historical periods. The oldest parts are the bell tower, built as a watchtower, and the two wings of the narthex preceding the façade, which are what remains of the quadriportico built around 1150, shortly after the abbey itself was founded (1040). The cuts resulting from the demolition of the other two sides are still clearly visible today. The narthex is almost entirely made up of stones from the Sesia river arranged in a herringbone pattern to increase its solidity. The mortar itself was obtained from materials found on site, near the Sesia river. It was probably originally used as a “hospitalis”, that is, it served as a place of rest and refreshment for travellers and pilgrims, who we know were very numerous in medieval times, and it also had the function of hosting catechumens.

Pedestrian area, also suitable for bicycles (but be careful of pedestrian traffic, especially on weekends!)

The Barriera Albertina was a customs barrier of the city of Novara. Today (2021) it hosts cultural, social and artistic exhibitions and conferences. The two buildings have a square plan, with a single floor, with a flat roof. The facades have a hexastyle pronaos of the Doric order, surmounted by a tympanum. The external walls are characterized by a smooth ashlar, interrupted by simple Doric pilasters, which intersperse the architraved windows. The appearance is sober and essential, measured in proportions, aligned with neoclassical canons. The sculptural decoration was entrusted to Giuseppe Argenti, a member of the school of Pompeo Marchesi, author in turn of the statue of Carlo Emanuele III in via Puccini. Argenti chose the subjects according to the indications of the historian Francesco Antonio Bianchini, to cover the building with significant figures and reliefs. On the tympanum of the two pronaos was placed a relief with two female figures, symmetrical, holding the royal and city insignia: this represents the close relationship between the Savoy interventions and urban development. On the sides of the vestibule, on the main facades, are the personifications of Royal Charity, Gratitude, Agriculture and Commerce. Initially there were also two statues placed on the supporting pillars of the wrought iron gate: the representations of Concord and Vigilance. In the upper part of the western façade of each building are the following inscriptions, both designed by the historian Francesco Antonio Bianchini: KAROLO ALBERTO REGI NOSTRO PATRI P. on the north building, O.P.Q. NOVARIENSIS MDCCCXXXVII D.D. on the south building. The gate was designed by the artist Pelagio Palagi, already author of the gate of the Royal Palace in Turin. Later it was, together with the two statues, moved to the monument to Carlo Alberto, in Piazza del Rosario (Piazza Gramsci). After the destruction of this monument, in September 1944, the statues were finally destined for the entrance to the cemetery, where they still are today. https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barriera_Albertina

Beautiful vineyards overlooking the hills of the lower Valsesia