Lumellogno: Cultural History between the Torre dei Canonici and Rice Fields

Historical Traces in the Rice-Field Landscape

The Torre dei Canonici in Lumellogno, a historic residential building dating from the 15th century, still shapes the surrounding rice-field landscape today. For travellers who wish to consider Italian cultural history and a rural setting together, this provides a clear thematic approach to the area. Here, the building and the landscape stand as two closely connected levels alongside each other.

The Torre dei Canonici and the Orione Canal

In the 15th century, the Torre dei Canonici was built to protect a mill on the Orione Canal. The building retains a distinctive pointed-arch window.

Archaeological Evidence from Bisognina and Fornasone

The finds from Bisognina take us particularly far back into the past. The biconical urn from Bisognina dates from the Late Bronze Age and is considered an expression of the so-called Canegrate culture. This biconical urn is also the oldest pottery from the area of the present-day city of Novara represented in the museum collections; in 1875, it was found in the village of Bisognina in the Lumellogno district. The finds from Bisognina point to a very old burial area in this village.

Fornasone also adds to this picture of the past: nine Padanian silver drachmas from the 2nd century BC were found in the Fornasone area of Lumellogno in 1864. A ceramic inkwell from the 1st or 2nd century AD also comes from the village of Molino del Bosco near Lumellogno.

Art in the Parish Church

The parish church of Santi Ippolito e Cassiano in Lumellogno houses a painting of the Madonna del Rosario with Saints Dominic and Francis by Antonio d’Enrico (Tanzio da Varallo). The same parish church also preserves a painting of the Virgin and Child by Tanzio da Varallo. In addition, the parish church’s Rosary Chapel displays a digitally painted image commemorating the 100th anniversary of the six martyrs of Lumellogno. The three works place different emphases and complement the archaeological traces with a religious and commemorative-cultural dimension.

An Event in 1922

On 16 July 1922, farmers and workers repelled fascist squads in the Battle of Lumellogno; six people were killed. This event is one of the historical references that shape Lumellogno beyond its medieval and ancient remains.

Rice and Agricultural Products

Another specific aspect of the area is agriculture. Acqua e Sole rice is grown on the 350 hectares surrounding the An Fed Agri farm, using certified seeds. Azienda Agricola Fontanella sells agricultural products directly to the public, including on Sundays. Those wishing to discover Lumellogno not only through its history but also through its rice landscape and agricultural products will find a second, practical way to explore the area here.

For further travel destinations, you can also explore Recetto, Borgolavezzaro, Oleggio Castello, Gozzano, Pella, Veruno, Paruzzaro and Lesa.

For the overarching travel overview: Novara.