The best walks and hikes around Quinto Vercellese

The cathedral of Sant’Eusebio, patron saint of Vercelli and Piedmont, boasts ancient origins, but its current appearance is the result of numerous restorations. In Roman times, there was a necropolis here where San Teonesto, the first Christian martyr of Vercelli, a victim of Diocletian's persecutions, was buried. Next to him, Sant’Eusebio was laid to rest in his honor. Tradition has it that the basilica was founded by Emperor Theodosius I, but the barbarian invasions caused serious damage, requiring subsequent reconstruction work. Thanks to its position on the Via Francigena, the cathedral has become a fundamental stop for pilgrims over the centuries, a testimony made evident by the precious relics preserved inside, including those of Thomas Beckett.

Magnificent outing in the rice fields of the Po 😊

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 Duomo di Vercelli, also known as the Cattedrale di Sant'Eusebio, is the most important religious building in Vercelli. This cathedral, dedicated to Saint Eusebius, the patron saint of Vercelli, has a rich history and impressive architecture. The origins of the Duomo date back to the Paleochristian era. Near the cemetery of San Teonesto, the alleged first Christian martyr of Vercelli, a basilica was built between the 5th and 6th centuries. This replaced the original cathedral, Santa Maria Maggiore, which was located elsewhere in the city. The current Duomo is a result of several construction phases. It combines elements of Mannerism, Baroque, Neoclassical and Eclecticism. Architects such as Pellegrino Tibaldi and Benedetto Alfieri contributed to its construction. The interior houses notable works of art, including the monumental Ottonian Crucifix. Inside the Duomo there are treasures such as: The Ottonian crucifix: an impressive crucifix. *The Madonna dello Schiaffo: a painting with a special legend. *Reliquaries and the treasury with jewels and precious fabrics. *Baroque altars and beautiful organs.

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.

The Basilica of Sant'Andrea is one of the most important and well-known monuments in Vercelli. It is the first Gothic monument in Piedmont, one of the earliest in Italy in this style, an example of Romanesque-Gothic architecture, in which local Romanesque and the novelties of Cistercian Gothic coexist. It has the dignity of a minor basilica. It was begun in 1219 by the will of Cardinal Guala Bicchieri and completed in 1227. Source: Wikipedia

Vercelli, city of the Francigena and with a thousand-year history. It owes its splendor above all to the power of the medieval bishopric and then to the cultivation of rice

The Basilica of Sant'Andrea is a Roman Catholic church in Vercelli in Piedmont, Italy. The former monastery church of the Archdiocese of Turin bears the title of a minor basilica. The basilica is the most important work of the transitional Romanesque-Gothic style in northern Italy, in which the local Romanesque and the innovations of the Cistercian Gothic coexist. Begun in 1219 by Cardinal Guala Bicchieri, it was completed in 1227. The detached campanile dates from the 15th century. The basilica was built between 1219 and 1227 on the initiative of Cardinal Guala Bicchieri. The cornerstone was laid on February 19, 1219 in the presence of Bishop Ugone. The cardinal had recently returned from England where, in his capacity as papal legate, he expressed the appreciation and gratitude of King Henry III. acquired, so that as a reward he received the perpetual annuities of Saint Andrew's Abbey at Chesterton, Cambridge. Due to the financial resources available, the cardinal summoned some canons of the Congregation of St Victor from Paris to Vercelli and gave them responsibility for the abbey to be built and the pilgrims' hospital, the construction of which began in 1224. It was probably these canons, and in particular the abbot Thomas Gallus - already a professor at the University of Paris - who brought to Vercelli the innovations in Gothic architecture that had emerged in the Île-de-France. Through his diplomatic skill, the cardinal succeeded in the following years, the possessions of the abbey through gifts and privileges from Pope Honorius III. and to protect and increase Emperor Frederick II (the protection diploma issued in 1226 comes from him). Cardinal Bicchieri died in Rome in 1227, the year the basilica was completed. Source: Wikipedia