Ghemme: History, Wine and Views

Ghemme between Fortress Village and Art

Ghemme combines impressive buildings, religious art and a winemaking tradition. At the Castello-Ricetto di Ghemme, you will encounter a fortified village with a total area of 12,000 square metres, a rectangular layout and a central main street.

The Scurolo della Beata Panacea was built by Alessandro Antonelli between 1864 and 1875. Inside, it preserves frescoes by Francesco Toni and Paolo Emilio Morgari, as well as polychrome glass windows by Pompeo Bertini from 1897. The Giardino Gianoli also represents the connection between architecture and design: it is a typical example of a 19th-century Italian garden and features a greenhouse, a neo-Gothic-style viewing tower and a marble fountain. The public park of the Giardino Gianoli also includes a covered stage for theatre and music events.

Churches, Frescoes and Medieval Traces

Several religious buildings give Ghemme a multifaceted historical character. The Castello di Cavenago is a 16th-century castle on a hill overlooking Ghemme. The Chiesa di San Rocco was built as a votive church after the community of Ghemme was severely affected by the plague between 1630 and 1631.

The Chiesa Parrocchiale di Maria Assunta was built from 1666 onwards and completed in the middle of the 18th century. Its Latin-cross structure is richly decorated with Baroque stucco and 18th-century frescoes. In the Cappella del Crocifisso, the church also preserves a 15th-century crucifix. The Oratorio di San Fabiano preserves a depiction of the Crucifixion from the late 15th century; the frescoes there are attributed to the painter Bartolonus. Since 2014, Ghemme has been an individual member of the cultural route Cluniac Sites in Europe.

Wine as Part of the Character of the Town

Ghemme can also be discovered through its wines and wineries. Ghemme wine is made from at least 85 percent grapes of the Nebbiolo, Vespolina and Bonarda Novarese varieties. Production takes place in Ghemme and Romagnano Sesia in the Province of Novara. At the winery on the main street of the Castello-Ricetto di Ghemme, Pietraforata organises guided wine tastings featuring various wines from its own production.

CasaFrancoli offers a guided tour of the Torraccia del Piantavigna winery. CasaFrancoli's tasting package includes three wines from Torraccia del Piantavigna, one Luigi Francoli grappa and local products.

Monte Rosa and the Sesia Plain

The Ghemme area forms the southern gateway to the UNESCO Geopark. Stage 19 of the Sentiero Novara offers views of Monte Rosa and the Sesia Plain.

Other Places in the Surrounding Area

For further orientation, you can also include Caltignaga, Mezzomerico, Fara Novarese, Borgomanero, Colazza, Tornaco, Ameno and Pella in your plans.

To the higher-level travel overview: Novara.