Valduggia: Church Art, Taragn and Monte Fenera

Valduggia combines sacred art, local craft traditions, historic paths and natural history. The result is an Italian destination whose character ranges from churches and chapels, through traditional building forms, to a path leading into an old settlement centre and caves with an archaeological past. Depending on your interests, you can discover the area through its culture, landscape or as part of a regional exploration.

Churches and Art History

The parish church of San Giorgio has Romanesque origins and was extended and altered in the 15th and 16th centuries. The third altar features a Nativity by Gaudenzio Ferrari. For those interested in culture, this site combines visible architectural history with a specific work by the artist.

In the church of San Lorenzo in Castagnola, a hamlet of the municipality of Valduggia, the bodily relic of Marcellino is preserved. The Oratory of Saints Carlo and Caterina, dating from 1616, houses a wooden altarpiece on the high altar attributed to Gaudenzio Bonino (1628–1630). The Chapel of San Rocco contains frescoes probably attributed to Ferrari.

Crafts and Local Motifs

The monument to Gaudenzio Ferrari was created in the 19th century by Giosuà Argenti and stands in the centre of the square. The Antica Fonderia Achille Mazzola offers another way to explore local history. Historical bell-making tools can be seen there, including large compasses for bells and walnut-wood templates.

The Sentiero dei taragn

The Sentiero dei taragn leads from Valduggia to the old settlement centre of Sorzano. Along the route, you can see some of the last remaining Taragn: traditional farmhouses with rye-straw roofs and a base made from chestnut trunks. This type of house was typical of the lower Valsesia until the previous century. Those interested in regional building forms will find a tangible theme here, linking the route, settlement history and rural building culture.

Natural History at Monte Fenera

Some caves on the western slopes of Monte Fenera contain archaeological and palaeontological evidence of the presence of Neanderthals, who lived there around 300,000 years ago, as well as the cave bear (Ursus spelaeus), which became extinct 20,000 years ago.

Travel Information

For travel by car, the A26 motorway (Genova Voltri–Gravellona Toce) exit indicated for Valduggia is Romagnano–Ghemme. Valduggia is also connected to Lake Orta by the della Cremosina road.

Which accommodation suits your travel interests?

If you are looking for a hotel or other accommodation in Valduggia, you can shape your stay around the area's themes: church art and local history, traditional houses along the Sentiero dei taragn or the natural history of Monte Fenera. This combination may be particularly appealing to travellers who do not want to view culture and landscape separately.

For further destinations on your trip, you can also explore Piode, Santhià, Vercelli, Scopello, Borgosesia, San Genuario, Desana and Gattinara.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Vercelli.