Casalino: Discover Churches, Rice Landscapes and History

Churches as a Key to Local History

Casalino combines sacred architecture, historical memories and a landscape shaped by rice fields. A particularly rich concentration of history can be found in the Chiesa di San Pietro. It probably dates from the late 11th century. On 25 May 1194, the peace treaty between Novara and Vercelli was concluded there, known as the Pace di Casalino. The church has a three-aisled nave with a wooden roof and a semicircular apse in the centre and to the south. This place therefore gives you direct access to different layers of time, from medieval architectural history to an important 12th-century treaty.

A more recent architectural layer is represented by the present-day Chiesa Parrocchiale dei SS Pietro e Paolo in Casalino. It was built between 1841 and 1844 based on a design by the architect Luigi Cerasoli. The Chiesa Parrocchiale di Santo Stefano also contains a wooden crucifix associated with the Festone, which is celebrated every 25 years in Cameriano. Those exploring Casalino culturally can thus experience different forms of sacred art and religious memory side by side, without reducing the town to a single historical era.

I Strai di Mundini Between Paths and Rice Fields

The I Strai di Mundini network of paths is ideal for a slower exploration. It extends for more than 30 kilometres. All the paths can easily be walked or cycled. They lead through agricultural areas where various rice varieties are cultivated, including special, early and late varieties. This means that the landscape can be experienced not only as a route, but also through its agricultural character. If you would like to combine culture and physical activity during your stay, this network of paths offers a clear thematic focus for your planning.

Cameriano and Ponzana: Preserved Historical Traces

Concrete evidence of past architectural history can also be found in Cameriano. The preserved remains of the Castello di Cameriano include red outlines of old battlements and brick walls dating from the mid-15th century. The Castello di Cameriano is privately owned; visits are limited to the exterior.

The preserved Annunziata Chapel houses two fresco cycles from the second half of the 15th century. They came to light in two registers in 1995. In Ponzana, construction of the Castello Caccia di Ponzana probably began in the 11th century. Together, these buildings and works of art show how differently history can be preserved in individual places: through wall remains, chapel interiors or frescoes that only became visible again later.

Quarti: Remembrance of 30 March 1945

The district of Quarti is also part of the historical picture. On 30 March 1945, seven Garibaldini of the "Volante LOSS" fell victim to a massacre there. The Monumento alla Resistenza and the Parco della Pace were built at the site of the massacre. On your tour through Casalino's history, Quarti provides a distinct point of remembrance alongside the churches, castles and chapels.

Natural Environment and Clear Access Rules

In the wider regional surroundings of Casalino lies the Riserva Naturale della Palude di Casalbeltrame. It is surrounded by rice fields and includes wetland habitats for numerous resident, breeding and migratory waterbird species. Public access is restricted to the opening days and, on those days, to marked paths; alternatively, an escort authorised by the park is possible. When planning your visit, it is therefore crucial to distinguish between the natural area itself and the expressly regulated access options. This allows you to prepare for a nature experience with a realistic view of the existing conditions.

Further Places for Planning Your Trip

Further places in the vicinity of Casalino: Cavaglio D'agogna, Silvera, Sillavengo, Agrate Conturbia, Case Sparse, Invorio Inferiore, Grignasco, Cameri.

For the higher-level travel overview: Novara.