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PLACES AND ITINERARIES (...AND COSTS)
Some more ideas for visits in the provinces of Novara, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Varese, Vercelli and Biella.
You can combine two half-days for each proposed section and thus plan your itinerary.
Contact me for further suggestions or to book the date(s) of your tour, you will receive a detailed quote without obligation.
GREAT, BUT ROUGHLY HOW MUCH DOES IT COST ME?
- Cost of my half-day guided tour service: € 180.00
- Cost of my guided tour service for the whole day: € 280.00
Novara and surroundings
NOVARA CLASSIC TOUR
Novara is the second largest city in Piedmont in terms of population. A visit to the city can be considered a pleasant stroll under the many arcades of the city centre, discovering remarkable monuments.
Duration: half day
SAN NAZZARO AND PADDIES
An ancient fortified Benedictine abbey, today a splendid architectural complex that is well preserved and rich in valuable frescoes. In particular, the cloister
portico features a cycle with episodes from the life of St Benedict.
Duration: half day
GALLIATE CASTLE
A few kilometres from the provincial capital is Galliate, a town in the Ticino Valley Park area. Here you can visit the Visconti-Sforza castle and other interesting
monuments of great historical and artistic value.
Duration: half day
Lake Maggiore, the piedmontese shore
ARONA AND SAINT CHARLES
Arona was the birthplace of St Charles Borromeo. A beautiful town on southern Lake Maggiore, it offers tourists pleasant moments of relaxation, with walks along the lakefront and shopping in the narrow streets of the historic centre. Don't miss a visit to the colossal Sancarlone.
Duration: half day
STRESA
The pearl of Lake Maggiore is certainly Stresa. It overlooks the lake with its luxurious, historic hotels with elegant architecture and great charm, placed there as
a tribute to the beauty of the Borromean Islands. Over stresa, in a few minutes by car, you can reach the summit of Mottarone.
Duration: half day
VILLA TARANTO
This splendid green jewel, nestling between lake and mountains, is owed to the Scottish captain Neil Mc Eacharn. Today, the botanical heritage of the Villa Taranto Gardens includes about 1,000 non-native plants and about 20,000 varieties and species of special botanical value.
Duration: half day
Domodossola and nearby Switzerland
DOMODOSSOLA
The ancient capital of the Ossola, Domodossola has maintained its medieval appearance over time. The historic centre, with its ancient square and picturesque
buildings, will fascinate you. The town is dominated by the Mattarela hill, on which stands the Sacro Monte del Calvario.
Duration: half day
VAL VIGEZZO BY TRAIN
Departing from Domodossola, we venture out to discover one of the wildest and most romantic areas, aboard the picturesque narrow-gauge train of the Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway. An obligatory stop is the village of Santa Maria Maggiore, in the heart of the valley of the painters.
Duration: half day
LOCARNO
Known as one of the liveliest towns on Lake Maggiore for the International Film Festival and the Moon & Stars, Locarno is a town waiting to be discovered. Stroll along the lakeside promenade, let yourself be captivated by the beauty of the majestic Piazza Grande.
Duration: half day
Varese and surroundings
VARESE CLASSIC TOUR
City tour through porticoed streets, squares and sacred buildings, which bear witness to the historical evolution of the beautiful Lombard town. The ideal itinerary runs from Piazza Montegrappa to Corso Matteotti, from the Basilica of San Vittore to Piazza Podestà, from the courtyard of the Broletto to the gardens of Palazzo Estense.
Duration: half day
EREMO DI SANTA CATERINA
A fairytale scenario that presents itself to the eyes of the visitor, whether arriving by lake or reaching the hermitage by land via the long staircase or using the modern lift.
An architectural complex, that of Leggiuno, incredibly perched on the rock.
To be visited... all in one breath!
Duration: half day
ANGERA CASTLE
A perfectly preserved medieval castle, owned by the Borromeo family, dominates the town of Angera from the top of a spectacular limestone cliff.
The castle features remarkable frescoed rooms and houses the Doll and Toy Museum known as one of the most important collections in Europe.
Duration: half day
Lake Orta and Valsesia
LAKE ORTA
Orta San Giulio is the tourist destination par excellence in the Novara area. Visiting Orta and its island means taking a sort of journey into the past and falling in love with a rare and still authentic landscape, despite the chaotic coming and going of the many tourists.
Duration: half day
MADONNA DEL SASSO
On the western shore of Lake Orta, on a spur of granite rock 638 metres high, stands the 18th-century sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Its churchyard, known as the 'balcony of Cusio' because of the splendid view from there, is exceptionally wide.
Duration: half day
SACRED MOUNT OF VARALLO
It stands on a panoramic promontory overlooking the city of Varallo. A UNESCO site since 2003, it is the first of the sacred mountains of Piedmont.
Not to be missed, at the foot of the mountain, is a visit to the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie with its precious frescoes by Gaudenzio Ferrari.
Duration: half day
Vercelli and surroundings
VERCELLI CITY OF ART
Discover the beauties of Vercelli, such as the Basilica di Sant'Andrea, the first Gothic building in Italy, the Renaissance frescoes in the Church of San Cristoforo, the numerous city towers, Piazza Cavour, the Synagogue, the Leone and Borgogna museums.
Duration: half day
LE GRANGE VERCELLESI
To the 'conquest' of Vercelli rice. Along the road of the Grange it will be possible to visit a local farm and above all enjoy the spectacular play of reflections of
sky and granaries (the grange in fact) in the waters of the flooded fields.
Duration: half day
PRINCIPATO DI LUCEDIO
The Principato di Lucedio represents one of the most interesting abbey complexes in Piedmont. The complex, whose history dates back to 1123, was managed for
centuries by Cistercian monks who introduced rice cultivation to Italy around the 15th century.
Duration: half day
Biella and surroundings
BIELLA CITY OF ART
Guided tour of the architectural beauty of the historic centres of Biella Piano and Biella Piazzo. After visiting the cathedral complex in the historic centre of
Piano, we will take the funicular railway to visit Biella Piazzo, known for its medieval views and remarkable historic buildings. Back at the piano we will visit the Renaissance complex of San
Sebastiano.
Duration: half day
SANCTUARY OF OROPA
Located in a picturesque basin, the Sanctuary of Oropa is linked to the cult of the Black Madonna. According to tradition, it was St Eusebius, the first bishop of Vercelli, who brought the wooden statue of the Virgin sculpted by St Luke to Oropa from Jerusalem. Since its foundation in the 13th century at the latest, the sanctuary has evolved to its current appearance.
Duration: half day
RICETTO DI CANDELO
A late-medieval fortified structure was built by the local community on land originally owned by the Vialardi nobles, later redeemed by the Candelese. The shelter provided protection for the
products of the land, in particular grain and wine, and also offered shelter to the population in case of need. Perfectly preserved, today it represents a unique example of its kind.
Duration: half day