Discover Vercelli: Art, History and Rice Fields

Vercelli combines sacred architecture, important museums and the distinctive landscape of Piedmont’s rice fields. The Basilica di Sant’Andrea combines Romanesque tradition with the emerging forms of Gothic architecture. Together with the Cathedral of Sant’Eusebio, archaeological collections and regional specialities, this creates a diverse destination for travellers who want to get to know Italy’s history and local everyday life in greater detail.

Architecture and sacred sites

The original Basilica of Sant’Eusebio was built in the 4th century on the site of Sant’Eusebio’s tomb. Of the cathedral’s medieval structure, the Romanesque bell tower is the only part that has survived; it dates from the 12th century. The cathedral is free to enter and accessible to people with disabilities. Because religious services are actively held there, visits must take these celebrations into consideration.

The Church of San Cristoforo is also free to enter. Access is at ground level and is therefore also possible for people with disabilities. Vercelli’s religious architecture also includes the city’s synagogue. It is regularly open to the public at specific times; you should check the times with the secretariat.

Museums of archaeology, art and book history

The MAC Museo Archeologico Civico “L. Bruzza” displays more than 600 artefacts from stratigraphic archaeological investigations carried out in Vercelli over the past 30 years. At the very beginning of the tour, visitors are greeted by an animated digital hologram of the Apollo statue. The statue was found in Vercelli in the 16th century, creating a vivid link between the museum visit and the city’s history.

The Museo del Tesoro del Duomo in the archbishop’s palace preserves one of the richest existing collections of sacred objects. It also displays goldsmith’s work dating from the 7th to the 17th century. An anastatic copy of the Vercelli Book, a famous codex from the end of the 10th century written in Old English, adds to this insight into religious and written heritage.

The Museo Francesco Borgogna houses 800 works spread across three floors, dating from the 15th to the 20th century. The altarpieces and frescoes of the Piedmontese Renaissance are particularly noteworthy. In its archaeological section, the Museo Camillo Leone displays Roman finds from the Vercelli area, including a famous bilingual Latin-Gallic stele. Its old library also preserves around 20,000 volumes, including illuminated parchment manuscripts, Cinquecentine and incunabula.

ARCA and special insights

ARCA is used for cultural events and exhibitions. Visitors can see the medieval vaults of San Marco and the uncovered 15th-century frescoes there. Alongside the museums and churches, this makes it a focal point where historic architectural traces and contemporary cultural events come together.

Rice fields, railways and regional connections

Vercelli is surrounded by rice fields. During the flooding in April and May, you can cycle along the fields and experience a landscape shaped by the season. Vercelli is located on the Milan–Turin railway line. Daily bus services connect the city with Biella, Varallo and Casale Monferrato.

At Piazza Cavour, you can sample Bicciolani and Tartufata in a historic café, typical sweets of the city. This allows the museums, sacred sites, rice fields and local flavours to be combined into different focuses for a stay in Vercelli.

Further places in the region: Pila, Scopello, Fobello, Campertogno, Alagna Valsesia, Riva Valdobbia, Breia, Carisio, Piode, Vercelli, Livorno Ferraris, Gattinara, Varallo, Bianzè, Rima, Motta Dè Conti, Santhià, San Genuario, Rimasco, Cigliano, Desana, Rimella, Crescentino, Trino, Ferrera, Serravalle Sesia, Balmuccia, Vocca, Borgosesia, Cellio, Valduggia, Albano Vercellese.

To the overarching travel overview: Piedmont.