Abbiategrasso to Alpe di Mera (Valsesia)
Nichelino to Novara <here>
Modena to Cattolica <here>
Things to do and places to visit ...
Don't forget ...
this is not a guidebook, just some things picked up from the Giro d'Italia.
Abbiategrasso, Lombardy
This ancient town, about 20 km from Milan, is included in the Natural Park of the Ticino River and is an important agricultural center producing mainly rice and maize.
Its wide territory - the second largest commune in the province after Milan - includes a network of navigable canals, the so-called Navigli, originally excavated to connect the river with the city of Milan.
There are three main attractions:
- The basilica of Santa Maria Nuova, built in 1388 for the birth in the town of Giovanni Maria son of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, and in the following century a lodge was added in the front, but left unfinished, possibly on a design by Donato Bramante.
- The Castle, a very ancient fortress, renovated and embellished in 1438 by Filippo Maria Visconti,was a strategic stronghold between the Naviglio Grande and the road Milano-Vigevano.
- The Convento dell'Annunciata, a beautiful 15th century monastery erected in 1466 to fulfil a vow by Galeazzo Maria Sforza , was entrusted to the Franciscans. Suppressed by the French in 1810, it was first a hospital, then a warehouse, and later a dwelling. Only in recent years the monument was brought back to its original architecture, and the renovation works brought to light a fresco cycle on the wall of the apse, representing Stories of the Life of the Virgin Mary, dated 1519 and signed by Nicola Mangone alias Moietta, a painter of the Caravaggio school, as well as more frescoes on the walls of the refectory.
Alpe di Mera
With its 30 km of groomed slopes, it offers a splendid ski park to all skiing enthusiasts and is a real paradise for athletes. It’s easily reachable thanks to the double access, from Scopello and Alpe Trogo, and to the large parking of the ski lifts. It overlooks the valley from above with a surprising vista and allows visitors to admire the Monte Rosa massif in all its majesty. This panorama is unmatched in Valsesia! The ski slopes develop from the 1.800 meters of the Cima Camparient down to the 600 meters of Scopello. Tracks are designed on slopes that make the skiing suitable for everyone from beginners to the most demanding skier, especially for families.
The possibilities of off-piste paths in fresh snow are fun and safe and exposure to the sun makes the destination a must and favorite destination.
Alpe di Mera snowpark offers challenging and learning opportunities for skiers and snowboarders who choose freestyle and who literally want to fly over Monte Rosa. The little ones who want to have fun and have their first experiences accompanied by a ski teacher are welcome!
Nichelino (Stupinigi, Turin) to Novara
Nichelino is a city 10 km (6 mi) southwest of Turin. It was born as a medieval stronghold in 1694 with the award of “Regia Patente” granted by the King Vittorio Amedeo II to the Counts Occelli. The territory exploded with the economic boom under the massive immigration attracted by the FIAT group. The population rose from 7,257 in the ’50s up to 50,000 in the ’70s. The stigma of “working-class bedroom” has its roots in this period and the city was forced to deal with this black mark until the end of the century, despite the necessary services provided in order to transform the old town into a modern city. On 17 January 2000, thanks to the Decree Law of the President of the Republic Ciampi, Nichelino received the title of City. Today Nichelino boasts many cultural, sport and social initiatives thanks to the presence of the theatre “Superga”, the youth centre “Open Factory”, the library “G.Arpino”, many sports clubs and associations.
The Palazzina di caccia of Stupinigi (The hunting residence of Stupinigi) is one of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy in northern Italy, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. Built as a royal hunting lodge in the early 18th century. Today the Palace houses the Museo di Arte e Ammobiliamento, a museum of the arts and furnishings, some original to the palazzina, others brought from the former Savoia residences of Moncalieri and Venaria Reale. Stupinigi has the most important collection of Piedmontese furniture, including works by Turin's famous Royal cabinet-makers. Additionally, temporary exhibitions are held in its galleries. The garden of the hunting lodge and the surrounding hunting estate are part of a large geometric garden, characterized by a continuous succession of flowerbeds, parterres and avenues.
GASTRONOMY
The Stupinigi Natural Park, adjacent to the Palazzina, is an area identified as the most suitable agricultural land for growing traditional varieties of wheat with a low gluten content, which had not been grown in the area for a long time, and to these have been added many varieties of ancient grains. The wheat sown in the park is stone-ground and the flour is sold in the area and also used by the Panacea bakery (in Turin) to produce sourdough bread. Working in a short supply chain without intermediaries ensures the elimination of chemical additives and offers consumers a product whose quality and origin are fully known. The Stupinigi flour chain is promoted by the Association Stupinigi through the initiative called “Filiera in Fiera”, which every year during the feast day in Nichelino, presentation, workshops on bread-making techniques, and distributes the Panacea bakery’s sourdough, etc.
Also within the Park is located the Barale/Bertola farm, specialised in the production of high quality milk used to make ice cream, yoghurt, cakes, etc.
There is also the Michele Piovano beef farm, dedicated to raising Piedmont beef cattle. Thanks to the direct link from the farmer to the consumer, the high quality of its specialities is guaranteed: hamburgers, meatballs, the “agnolotti”pasta.
“El cichetin del Niclin” is the Nichelino basil liqueur, created with products from Ponzio farm in Nichelino, which specialises in basil production.
Novara
Novara is a city rich in traditions, history and artistic masterpieces, created little by little, in a sequence of stratifications and influences which have made it a lively cultural centre, an ideal stop for a visit throughout the entire year. Its true soul emerges in the historic centre, which revolves around the 19th century Basilica of San Gaudenzio that dominates everything. It rises exactly where the temple of Jupiter stood in the time of the Romans. The 121 metres dome dominates the skyline of the province’s capital city, a familiar shape in which the people of Novara recognise themselves. From the top the view is lost beyond the town’s borders, to the rice fields and reaching to the Alps, so you can almost touch it during days of clear skies.
Novara was founded around 89 BC by the Romans, when the local Gauls obtained the Roman citizenship. Its name is formed from Nov, meaning "new", and Aria, the name the Cisalpine Gauls used for the surrounding region. The most ancient building in town; the monumental Complex of Broletto where once the public and civil life took place, today hosts the Modern Art Gallery Giannoni. The Castello Visconteo-Sforzesco, returned to the city after an impressive restoration, is nowadays the new culture and museum centre of Novara. Visit ExpoRisorgimento, a collection dedicated to the historical events of the 19th century and some temporary exhibitions that enliven the cultural life all year long.
SPECIALITY FOOD
As Novara is surrounded by rice fields, its typical dish can only be made with rice: the paniscia is a risotto with beans, cabbage and salame della duja (a typical salami kept in a clay pot under pork fat) and all the vegetables you can find in your garden. Each family has its own recipe, the important is to cook it in large quantity, so you can eat the rest the day after al salto, crispy and tasty.
Gorgonzola is always on the table, both dolce and piccante. The Consortium for the Protection of Gorgonzola Cheese is in Novara, where most of the production is concentrated. One can taste it alone or combined with other ingredients in delicious recipes.. Dulcis in fundo, the Biscotti of Novara are an ancient dessert whose recipe dates back to the XVIth century, made by nuns that used to prepare them during Easter then send to the Pope. Made only with flour, sugar and eggs they have accompanied the snacks of the Novara people for over 500 years. During the patron saint celebrations (22nd January) the Bread of San Gaudenzio is worth tasting; it’s a cake made with raisins or chestnuts, closed in a shortcrust pastry shell with dried fruit grains on top.
DRINKS One of the most famous aperitifs in the world, Campari was created in Novara!
In the mid XIXth century Gaspare Campari bought the Caffè dell’Amicizia in the town centre, where he created his bitter recipe that remains unchanged.
Not far from Novara the landscape changes from the flat paddy fields to the gentle hills and from rice to wine. Rows of grapevines have been planted, processed and then their grapes transformed into wine since Roman times, with increasingly satisfying and successful results. Always particularly favoured by microclimate, the first Communal Winery in Italy was born in the province of Novara,with mineral soils of volcanic origins. Nebbiolo, the king of Piedmont vines, is the master. Alone or in a blend of native grapes, it gives the important DOC and DOCG of the territory: Ghemme DOCG, Boca DOCG, Fara DOCG, Sizzano DOCG and the Colline Novaresi DOC.
For art, music, the automobile industry, and fine food, Modena is an alluring destination that offers visitors nearly unlimited opportunities. Modena is a shrine of treasures to be discovered without haste, surprising travelers with a magical interweaving of art, gastronomy, music and motors. Located between the Secchia and Panaro rivers, in the heart of Emilia-Romagna, the city boasts a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Duomo, Piazza Grande and Torre Ghirlandina) and it’s recognized as an inspiring land, attracting talent and passion, giving birth to celebrities admired all over the world such as Enzo Ferrari and Luciano Pavarotti. Modena is a land of engines with big brands such as Ferrari, Maserati and Pagani and it has also long been known for its cuisine, a reputation earned for authenticity, respect for tradition, and attention to the conservation of genuine flavor, one of the richest in products guaranteed by the “protected designation of origin” or “protected geographical origin” symbol. Modena is the ideal destination for food lovers.
Gastronomy
Synonymous with fine dining, the Modena area is famous all over the world for its cuisine. Its long-standing status as a food capital is due to its commitment to authenticity, its regard for tradition and guardianship of local flavours. The area boasts a wealth of food and wine as well as extensive culinary experience offered by a network of restaurants, trattorias and osterie, as well as farms and artisans that have achieved worldwide recognition thanks to their efforts to safeguard and enhance local products and flavours, such as the Osteria Francescana, recognized as one of the best restaurants in the world.
Excellence, tradition, and flavor: In Modena, three words that describe the ideal menu. Your voyage among local food and wine traditions begins with a delicious antipasto of cured meats, with Prosciutto di Modena as the star attraction. The place of honor among Modena’s first courses is reserved for tortellini, pasta squares folded around a filling of pork, prosciutto and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Meat dishes include cotechino and zampone, a mixture of ground pork flavored with herbs and spices and stuffed into the skin of a trotter. You’re also sure to enjoy Crescentine (known locally as “tigelle”) and Gnocco Fritto, either as side dishes or main courses, two delightful specialties typically served with cheese and charcuterie or various sauces. No table in Modena is complete without traditional balsamic vinegar, a silky elixir that’s unique among the cuisines of the world. “Balsamico” is made from the must of cooked grapes that are allowed to age until acid develops during natural fermentation and is then gradually concentrated in a lengthy aging process. Parmigiano Reggiano cheese serves as a faithful companion, typically enjoyed in thin slices with a drop of two of traditional balsamic vinegar. Such a sumptuous meal pairs naturally with a fine glass of Lambrusco, a sparkling red that is the best-selling wine in the world, the perfect accompaniment to local cuisine. Finish off with a heaping serving of Vignola Cherries or Amarene Brusche preserves, made from the dark-colored sour cherries that grow in and around Modena. 
The quality of both these local delicacies is guaranteed by the “protected geographical origin” symbol. You’ll also find a wide variety of specialty sweets and baked goods such as the Bensone (a traditional pastry made with flour, milk, eggs, butter, and sugar and sometimes filled with jam), Zuppa Inglese (a trifle made with sponge cake, a red herbal liqueur, and custard), and amaretti cookies. Here’s one piece of advice: Don’t leave the table without ordering a glass of Nocino, a delightful digestif made from walnuts.
Drinks
Known the world over, Lambrusco, the region’s sparkling red wine, boasts a unique flavor profile. Straightforward and genuine, Lambrusco perfectly embodies the character of this part of Italy and serves as one of the bases of the local economy. Depending on the variety of grapes employed in its production, a number of PDO Lambruscos are produced. Lambrusco di Sorbara, also known as Lambrusco della Viola, presents a fresh and delicate flavor and light body to the palate.
Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce is fresh, savory, balanced, and moderately tannic in the mouth, an ideal accompaniment for any meal. Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro is elegant, balanced, and more full-bodied than other Lambrusco wines; it is soft and fruity on the palate. Finally, Lambrusco di Modena has elegant, floral or fruity notes. Among the typical drinks of the area, Nocino, a very pleasant liqueur obtained from the husk of green walnuts, deserves a mention. It is a product of ancient tradition which is limpid, of a more or less accentuated dark brown color, with an intense flavor with a note of walnut and an aromatic, pleasant and persistent flavor, typical of immature walnuts. Tradition has it that the walnuts are harvested on June 24, the day of St. John the Baptist, when the ripening of the fruit is not yet completed, and the husk is green and tender. The simplest and most traditional way to taste Nocino is to serve it, neat and at room temperature, as a digestive at the end of a meal.
Main sites
Modena is home to architectural gems of such rare beauty that they were designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. For lovers of art and culture, Modena is a destination not to be missed. There’s no shortage of sights to see for a one-of-a-kind experience: an unbelievable voyage through time awaits. Modena’s World Heritage Site, recognized since 1997, includes the Ghirlandina Tower, Piazza Grande, and Modena’s Cathedral, a masterpiece of human creative genius and one of the best examples of Romanesque style in the world; the Town Hall with its historic rooms where the ancient Secchia Rapita and the Acetaia Comunale (a small Balsamic Vinegar production hosted under the roof of the Town Hall) are kept. The seventeenth-century Palazzo Ducale, today home to the Military Academy, used to house the Court of the House of Este, which moved from Modena to Ferrara in 1598. In the imposing Palazzo dei Musei you can visit the Gallerie Estensi, one of Italy’s most important collections of art and stands as a testament to the passion for collecting shared by the Estense Dukes and the Museo Civico which in 2021 celebrates the 150th anniversary of its foundation. The Fondazione Modena Arti Visive (Modena Visual Arts Foundation) offers every year a number of interesting exhibitions dedicated to photography and image and the Museo della Figurina collection, unique of its kind.
For bel canto enthusiasts, the Municipal Theatre of Modena and the Luciano Pavarotti House Museum will be unmissable stops. A deeply rooted tradition, an intimate rapport, and a harmony that can never be disturbed - Modena is music. An extraordinary connection across time links ancient origins and Modena’s musical present. Since the time of the Este dynasty, a love for song has been cultivated in Modena’s schools, musical academies, and theatres and through frequent public events. This deeply felt vocation has brought acclaimed opera singers such as Mirella Freni, Raina Kabainvanska and Luciano Pavarotti (“the Maestro”) to international fame. Modena was also the Italian capital of “Beat” music with such performers as Equipe 84, Caterina Caselli, and the Nomadi, and is the homeland of singers and musical line-ups like the pop and rock legends Vasco Rossi, Francesco Guccini, Paolo Belli, the Modena City Ramblers, Nek, and many others.
Modena is the ideal starting point for a journey to discover the surrounding region among villages, castles and itineraries immersed in nature, from the valley to the Apennines.
Cattolica
Located on the border between Romagna and Marche at the foot of Monte San Bartolo, it is a long standing seafaring and hospitality tradition village founded in 1271. Its vocation for hospitality started in Roman times, developed in the 20th century when rich families from Emila built their holiday villas, and after the second world war Cattolica became the “Adriatic Queen” thanks to its “made in Romagna” vocation for hospitality. Because of its seafaring tradition the harbour area is its flagship and it is strictly related to the ancient part of the town and to the hills of the Valconca, rich in history and culture with its medieval villages such as Gradara, Montefiore Conca and Saludecio. Cattolica also hosts the Parco Le Navi, the largest aquarium of the Adriatic Coast.
Gastronomy
The “Miacetto” and the “Bilzulà” are traditional food speciailties of Cattolica. The first is a dried fruit oven cooked cake enriched with honey, citrus peel, sugar and middling, without yeast, it has been known for centuries and is still very important in the local tradition. Its recipe is well known even if each family hands down through the generations its own variation. Miacetto is usually made at home, it is a gift for relatives and friends that strengthens the bonds of affection, however during the Christmas period is also on sale in bakeries and pastry shops.
The “Bilzulà” was the livelihood of fishermen when they were at sea, a sort of biscuit-bread they brought with them during long fishing trips. Its doughnut shape was very useful because it was hung first to the belt of the trousers and then high in the hold to prevent a wave, carrying water in the bottom of the hull, soaked it. It was used as a food reserve at sea, being able to keep for several days and soaked in wine. The traditional cuisine of Cattolica is rich in sea dishes: Adriatic sea fish, strozzapreti (priest-strangler) pasta, tagliatelle and piadina.
Drinks
The vine heritage of Cattolica spreads from the Adriatic Coast to the Marecchia and Conca Valley. Among the red grapes Sangiovese is without any doubt both the main local product and the prince of the Rimini hills. Sangiovese, was probably cultivated by the Etruscan, and it was very famous among the Romans, who called it “Sanguis Jovis” (blood of Jupiter), thanks to its vigour. The story tells that Sangiovese grapes were planted here in Romagna by the Console Gneo Papirio Carbone: his farm infact belonged to the Massa Maritiana and it supplied directly to Rome. It seems that the amphores traveled along the river Conca and they left probably from the harbour of Cattolica. Among the white grapes the most famous ones are Trebbiano, Romagnolo, Biancame and Rebola, but there are also some ancient grapes such as Vernaccia, Verdetto, Vernaccina, Ciurlese, Varano, Scroccona, Famoso, Bottaio, Canino, Cargarello. All these wines has obtained the DOC designation (Denomination of Controlled Origin) since 1996. The typical wines of Cattolica are: Sangiovese, Albana, Trebbiano, Sauvignon, Pagadebit, Cagnina and Lambrusco. Among the typical beverages there is the so-called “Brulè wine”: it is generally drunk in winter, above all during the Christmas holiday. It is a hot beverage, made of red wine, citrus fruits, sugar and aromatic spices, usually cinnamon and clove, but you can also add nutmeg and star anise to taste it sweeter. Since past times it is drunk to warm hearts and invigorate the mood.
Main sites
Cattolica town center is full of monuments and other interesting places. The “Catolica vecia”, the most ancient part of the town, gathers in its narrow streets
many examples of human work: the S. Apollinare church, built at the end of 13th century, with its marvellous 16th century Laurentini School Crucifixion and its altar-piece by Baseari depicting Saints Sebastin and Rocco with an image of Cattolica in the background. The Malatesta fortress, dating back to the period between 1490 and 1491, built by Lombard workers to protect the town from probable Turkish and pirate landings on the coast. Thanks to its central position it had always had the role of controlling illegal maritime mercantile activities.
In the ancient part of the town there is also the Regina Museum located in the 16th century religious building of the former pilgrim hospital. The museum with its two sections, archaeological and ethno-anthropological, tells the story of Cattolica and its traditions. The archaeological section contains findings from the city excavations started in the 60s of the twentieth century that have brought to light material evidence relating to the Roman age; other findings from an excavation in 2007 revealed the presence of a Bronze Age village dating between 1800 and 1500BC.
The ethno-anthropological section is dedicated to the material and immaterial culture of the “People of sea” starting from the birth of the port in modern age, the developments of the naval shipbuilding, the navigation and fishing techniques, the daily, religious and social life of maritime communities up to the transformations linked to the advent of the engine from the 1920s onwards. During the 1920s the local Proloco started tourist promotion with public measures to make Cattolica more and more beautiful and functional. The Sirene fountain is one of the most important works, made by the sculptor Giuseppe Casalini (1887 – 1957), nowdays one of the town symbols. It is located in Piazza I Maggio and it was made of reinforced concrete and finished in cement and copper grit, a material that acquires the shades of bronze. The structure of the fountain reproduces the forms of three young women wrapped in a drapery, for which the sculptor took his daughter Francesca as a model. The Aquarium of Cattolica is located in a modern rationalist building named
“Le Navi”, a former navel fleet shape marine hostel designed by architect Clemente Busiri Vici in 1931. Its original name was marine hostel “XXVIII Ottobre” and it was designed to accommodate the children of Italians living abroad.
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