Attractions and Places To See around Villata - Top 20

The Abbey of San Nazzaro Sesia is a complex made up of structures from different historical periods. The oldest parts are the bell tower, built as a watchtower, and the two wings of the narthex preceding the façade, which are what remains of the quadriportico built around 1150, shortly after the abbey itself was founded (1040). The cuts resulting from the demolition of the other two sides are still clearly visible today. The narthex is almost entirely made up of stones from the Sesia river arranged in a herringbone pattern to increase its solidity. The mortar itself was obtained from materials found on site, near the Sesia river. It was probably originally used as a “hospitalis”, that is, it served as a place of rest and refreshment for travellers and pilgrims, who we know were very numerous in medieval times, and it also had the function of hosting catechumens.

Pilgrim hostel in Vercelli

Hospitale Sancti Eusebi in Vercelli, Italy, is a welcoming place for pilgrims on the Via Francigena. This hostel is open all year round for pedestrians and cyclists. Please note that there is no reception for pilgrims on horseback. For group reception, you must book in advance. The opening hours are from 14:00 to 22:00. In the winter months (October-February) hot water is available for showers and heating is provided on one floor of the accommodation (kitchen + room with 6 beds). It is recommended to bring a warm sleeping bag. Within a radius of 200 meters you will find a church, a bus stop, an ATM, a bar/restaurant, a supermarket, a pharmacy and a residential area. Within 1 kilometer you will find the train station and the hospital. Smoking is prohibited throughout the property and pets are not allowed. The reception is only open during fixed hours. For direct contact you should look up the contact details on the internet. The Hospitale Sancti Eusebi offers a simple and welcoming place for pilgrims following the Via Francigena.

This beautiful church was built in 1220, during a prosperous period. The style is a combination of Northern Gothic (vertical towers and octagonal bell tower) and the typical style from the Po Valley (triangular gable, arches and use of brick). The facade, a colorful whole of stone and marble, is flanked by high towers and has three vaulted porches; The tympanums are probably by sculptor Benedetto Antelami. The very massive bell tower (right) dates from the 15th century. The sober interior with three naves has a choir with wooden inlay and the funerary monument (14th century) of Tomasso Gallo, first abbot of the basilica (second chapel in the right transept). The left aisle leads to the monastery buildings and to the cloister, which offers beautiful views of the complex.

The Hospitale Sancti Eusebi in Vercelli, Italy, is a welcoming place for pilgrims on the Via Francigena. This hostel is open all year round to pedestrians and cyclists. Please note that there is no reception for pilgrims on horseback. You must book in advance for group reception. Opening hours are from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM. In the winter months (October-February) hot water is available for showers and heating is provided on one floor of the accommodation (kitchen + room with 6 beds). It is recommended to bring a warm sleeping bag. Within a radius of 200 meters you will find a church, a bus stop, an ATM, a bar/restaurant, a supermarket, a pharmacy and an inhabited area. The train station and hospital are within 1 kilometer. Smoking is prohibited throughout the property and pets are not allowed. The reception is only open at fixed times. For direct contact you have to look for the contact details on the internet. The Hospitale Sancti Eusebi offers a simple and welcoming place for pilgrims following the Via Francigena

The ancient village of Olcenengo is surrounded by the slow flow of its irrigation canals and shrouded in winter fog, dense and impenetrable guardian of landscapes with an ancient flavor. Agriculture is the main economic sector of Olcenengo, but in the shadow of the large farms, craft businesses related to the rice sector have developed: mechanical workshops, wooden products, pig farms with their own production of typical sausages, small family-run rice mills . The town hall, the small square with the fountain of the "sgorgia" and the "frog", the church are the most characteristic points of the city. Only a few parts of the castle, dating from 1100, are still used as a farm. The town hall is a compact building rising over two floors. The public fountain in Piazza Paietta has become the symbol of the city: a frog at the edge of the pool sprays a stream of water at a "sgorgia" (blue heron), the typical bird of the rice fields. https://www.viefrancigene.org/it/resource/poi/olcenengo/

The Lame del Sesia park extends over an area of approximately 900 hectares along a stretch of almost 8 kilometers of the Sesia river, located between the provinces of Novara and Vercelli. The river environment, enriched by blades, meanders, bodies of water, woods, gravels and sands, constitutes an important natural oasis in stark contrast to the surrounding landscape characterized by rice monoculture.

In addition to the Basilica of Sant' Andrea and the Cathedral of Sant' Eusebio, also interesting are the Avogadro Tower, Piazza Cavour with its porticoes, the statue of Cavour and the nearby Torre dell'Angelo visible from the square.