Vercelli: Ski Hotel, Culture and History
Accommodation in Vercelli
More than 600 artefacts from stratigraphic archaeological investigations carried out in Vercelli over the past 30 years await you at the MAC Museo Archeologico Civico “L. Bruzza”. At the very beginning of the tour, visitors are greeted there by an animated digital hologram of the statue of Apollo, which was found in Vercelli in the 16th century.
File:Le provincie d'Italia - Vercelli - Piemonte.jpg
Photo: Giovanni De Agostini via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Culture
At the Museo Francesco Borgogna, 800 works from the 15th to the 20th century are spread across three floors. The altarpieces and frescoes of the Piedmontese Renaissance are of particular interest. The archaeological section of the Museo Camillo Leone displays Roman finds from the Vercelli area, including a famous bilingual Latin-Gallic stele. The old library of the same museum contains around 20,000 volumes, including illuminated parchment manuscripts, Cinquecentine and incunabula.
The Museo del Tesoro del Duomo is located in the archbishop’s palace and preserves one of the richest collections of sacred objects in existence. Also on display are goldsmiths’ works from the 7th to the 17th century, as well as an anastatic copy of the Vercelli Book. This famous codex dates from the end of the 10th century and is written in Old English. Cultural events and exhibitions are held at ARCA; visitors can also see the medieval vaults of San Marco and uncovered 15th-century frescoes there.
History
The Cathedral of Sant’Eusebio is free to enter and accessible to people with disabilities. During visits, consideration must be given to religious services because worship is still actively conducted there. Its Romanesque bell tower is the only surviving part of the medieval structure from the 12th century. The original Basilica of Sant’Eusebio was built in the 4th century at the site of his tomb. The Basilica di Sant’Andrea in Vercelli provides another architectural link between different eras: it combines the Romanesque tradition with the emerging forms of Gothic architecture.
The Church of San Cristoforo is free to enter and accessible at ground level, including for people with disabilities. The Synagogue of Vercelli is regularly open to the public at certain times. These times should be checked with the secretariat.
Landscape and Routes
Vercelli is surrounded by rice fields. During the flooding in April and May, you can cycle along the fields. For travel to the area, Vercelli is located on the Milan–Turin railway line. Daily bus connections link the town with Biella, Varallo and Casale Monferrato.
Local Specialities
At Piazza Cavour, you can sample Bicciolani and Tartufata, typical sweet treats of the city, in a historic café. Alongside the museums, churches and exhibition spaces, Vercelli’s surroundings therefore also offer its traditional local confectionery tradition and rice-growing landscape.
Other local destinations: Pila, Scopello, Campertogno, Alagna Valsesia, Riva Valdobbia, Piode, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Novara.
To the higher-level travel overview: Piedmont.
