Discover Suno: Churches, Castle and Hilly Landscape

Suno combines sacred architectural history, a medieval castle, astronomical research, and a hilly landscape to create a destination with many different facets.

Sacred History from the Romanesque Period to the Renaissance

The Pieve di San Genesio was Suno’s first parish church and is mentioned in a papal bull issued by Innocent II in 1132. The year 1132 gives the Pieve a firm connection to Suno’s medieval history. The building is dated to the first half of the 11th century and preserves a bell tower dating from the 10th to the 13th century. The tower’s chronological range therefore extends further back than the date assigned to the church building. When viewed on site, the church and bell tower can be regarded as separate structural elements.

The Oratorio di Santa Maria della Neve offers a different art-historical focus. It contains an important cycle of frescoes from the late 15th to the early 16th century. Until the last century, the oratory was a pilgrimage destination. Today, it is also known by the names Madonna di Campagna and Santa Maria de Egro.

Castle and Observatory as Special Destinations

The Castello dei Della Porta is a medieval castle that was renovated in the late 19th century and features Renaissance frescoes. The Renaissance frescoes belong to a later decorative layer than the medieval complex. Together with the Pieve and the Oratorio, it forms a cultural focal point for anyone who wants to view Suno’s historic buildings not only according to their period, but also in terms of their visible changes and artistic traces.

The Osservatorio astronomico Galileo Galilei di Suno offers a completely different perspective. It is located on Motto Zufolone in the Mottoscarone area. Astronomical research is carried out at the observatory; in cooperation with international organisations, a campaign is under way to monitor the orbital movements of asteroids. This international cooperation gives the asteroid campaign a clear scientific framework.

Hilly Landscape and Hiking

For orientation around the observatory, it is important to take account of the final access section: it runs as an unpaved track through the hilly landscape and surrounding area. When planning the route to the observatory, the unpaved section should be consciously considered as a separate part of the access route. For the journey, the condition of this final stretch remains a practical aspect of planning your day.

The landscape around the municipality of Suno can also be experienced while hiking. A moderately difficult hike leads through horse pastures and along rows of vines. The moderate difficulty rating is an independent planning factor for hikers and should be taken into account when planning the day. The specific route through horse pastures and along rows of vines defines the hike in the municipality of Suno as a rural trail.

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For the higher-level travel overview: Novara.