Borgomanero Between History, Culinary Delights and Pilgrimage Routes

Borgomanero combines impressive evidence of the past with a distinctive local food culture and opportunities for active exploration. The Cammino delle Colline Novaresi is a pilgrimage route leading to Borgomanero that can be walked or cycled. In addition, there are historic buildings, an important library, a public park and events that make it possible to experience the town from different perspectives.

Historic Sites and Notable Buildings

A striking testament to the town’s medieval history is the Torre della Baraggiola. The tower was built in the Ottonian period in the 10th century. Today, it is 21 metres high and has walls 120 centimetres thick. Its original function was observation and the transmission of signals for defensive purposes. The Torre della Baraggiola therefore represents an era in which structural height, massive walls and visible signals played a specific role in protecting the area.

The Oratorio di San Leonardo is Borgomanero’s oldest church. As early as the first half of the 12th century, it was the town’s first parish church. Particularly noteworthy are the original 13th-century frescoes, which depict Christ as Pantocrator, the Evangelists, the twelve Apostles and the months of the year. For visits, the Oratorio di San Leonardo was open on Saturdays under the supervision of a volunteer group. This scheduling and organisational information forms part of the documented visiting arrangements and should be taken into account separately when making specific plans.

Villa Marazza also brings together different historical layers. It represents the prototype of a rural aristocratic residence in the Novara area. The estate includes the Biblioteca di Villa Marazza, with more than 110,000 volumes, including around 30,000 old and rare books dating from the 14th to the 19th century. The library allows everyone to read on site. For visitors interested in culture, it offers an approach through architecture, regional history and written cultural heritage, without having to consider these subjects separately.

Park, Landscape and Local Character

The Parco di Villa Marazza is a public park with an equipped children’s area. Centuries-old oak and chestnut trees grow in the park.

Tapulone is also part of the local identity. The dish is regarded as the best-known local speciality of Borgomanero’s cuisine and forms part of the municipal De.Co. tradition. Anyone wishing to get to know the town through its cuisine will find a direct connection to the local food culture in this dish. Tapulone therefore represents not just a single food, but the connection between gastronomy and local tradition that characterises Borgomanero beyond its buildings.

Routes and Events in Borgomanero

The Cammino delle Colline Novaresi offers another way of approaching Borgomanero: the route leads to Borgomanero and can be travelled both on foot and by bicycle. Depending on the preferred means of transport, this allows a pilgrimage route to be incorporated into personal travel plans. Another time-specific aspect of the town is the 77th Festa dell’Uva, which takes place from 4 September to 13 September. The programme includes, among other events, the Palio degli Asini, the Grande Tapulonata and a parade of allegorical floats.

At the southern edge of Borgomanero, the Torre di Caristo stands on the border with Cressa. It retains the characteristics of an enclosed farm courtyard.

For your further travel planning, you can also consider Cavallirio, Trecate, Tornaco, Arona, Gargallo, Varallo Pombia, Vaprio D'agogna and Bogogno.

For the broader travel overview: Novara.