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Vercelli - Sant Andrea
The province of Vercelli lies in the north-eastern part of Piedmont, extending along the Sesia River, from Mount Rosa to the Po River, through the Baragge and flatlands southeast of the provincial capital.
The countryside is varied and fascinating, from the summits of the Alpine massif, the indisputable reign of skiing, to the gentle slopes of the Gattinara Hills, covered by vines, woods and criss-crossed by rivers, to the vast plains.
The spectacular panorama of paddy fields that characterise Vercelli, one Europe’s leading rice producer: rows of poplar trees divide the plain symmetrically, which is submerged for most of the year, reflecting the colours and hues of the sky.
There are many reserves, including the Parco Naturale Lame del Sesia with its wetlands and heron nests, the Parco Fluviale del Po Tratto Alessandrino-Vercellese, which is perfect for bird watching, and the Parco Naturale Alta Valsesia, an Alpine park that extends to Mount Rosa. The whole territory is replete with art and history, as can be seen in the architecture of the old town of Vercelli, while Alagna and other northern hamlets still preserve their Walser traditions in a fairy tale atmosphere. The Gattinara Hills and flatlands also possess a remarkable historical heritage of castles, picturesque medieval villages, and religious sites lying along the Via Francigena.
The exploration of the territory begins in Vercelli, which is dominated by the imposing Romanesque-gothic style Basilica of Saint Andrew and by the Duomo with its high medieval bell tower. Among the various attractions that should not be missed is the Borgogna Museum, a collection of the most important art works of Piedmont which includes paintings dating from the Renaissance and the eighteenth century.
The Varesina Valley offers an evocative landscape with wonderful views of the Gattinara Hills, where the Sacro Monte di Varallo is located, a sanctuary inspired by holy sites in Palestine. It is an extremely important architectural complex, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Interesting historical villages rich in artistic and religious remains include Santhià, Trino and the district of Lucedio where its magnificent medieval abbey can be admired.
An exploration of the paddy fields and ancient farmsteads leads to Arborio, renowned for its production of quality rice, and onto Crescentino, with its interesting old town. Other interesting landmarks are Gattinara where the wine of the same name is produced, and Varallo with its picturesque old town and the Sacro Monte.
Alagna Valsesia is a particularly charming resort, rich in ancient traditions and art works, and surrounded by the magnificent scenery of the Alps.
The elegant Castle of Moncrivello should not be missed, nor the Castle of San Genuario which dominates the Vercelli countryside.
The variety of the environments means many sports and outdoor activities are available.
The Vercelli plains are ideal for bike rides amidst the paddy fields and herons in unspoiled environments.
The Valsesia mountains with its major tourist resorts of Alpe di Mera and Alagna are perfect for winter sports: skiing, snowboarding, mountaineering, climbing and trekking.
The Parco Naturale Alta Valsesia provides many trails for mountain biking of varying degrees of difficulty.
In the Parco Naturale Regionale Lame del Sesia. gymnastic, botanic and nature routes are available, as well as bird watching, with numerous bird species.
The lakes and rivers provide canoeing, kayaking, rafting and fishing. The territory offers many special events, such as the "Trofeo De Rege" in Vercelli, which is a national shooting competition, the international festival ancient music at Varallo Sesia, the automobile parade on Good Friday in Vercelli, and the Alpàa in Varallo Sesia, an exhibition and market of typical products of Valsesia.
There are also a lot of local festivals dedicated to local gastronomic specialities.
The province of Vercelli has many gastronomic traditions linked to its various environments, all based on local produce.
The specialty of the traditional cuisine is the risotto, including the “panissa vercellese”, agnolotti with salami stuffing – served at the major festivals – the “fagiolata” (bean festival) and polenta concia.
Among the main courses, frogs are popular, cooked in various ways, cjvet hare, ”acciughe con ‘ibagnet vert’,” anchovies with garlic, parsley and hot pepper sauce, fried pork, “rognose” omelettes, prepared with minced salami.
Typical products include the cheese, toma valsesiana, cured pork and “mocetta” and leg of chamois.
The typical Vercelli desserts are bicciolani, cinnamon flavoured shortcrust pastry biscuits, , tartufata cake with cream, canestrelli and torcettini.
The province is also renowned for its prestigious wines, such as Gattinara, Bramaterra and Coste del Sesia.
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