Vercelli
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 14 March 2022
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The city of Vercelli is the capital city of the Province of Vercelli with a population of 46,552 inhabitants.
Standing at an elevation of 130 metres above sea level, it covers a total area of 80 km² and lies 65 kilometres north east of Turin, the regional capital of Piedmont. One of the oldest cities in Italy, dating back to the 6th century BC, it's now a well-established centre for the production of rice with the surrounding area full of paddy fields. |
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The layout of Vercelli is such that the main sights don't land on your doorstep as it were, instead they need to be carefully sought. The main square is Piazza Cavour; an attractive medieval market square with porticoed edges housing a number of shops and places to eat. There are seven medieval towers in the city and the main one, Torre dell'Angelo can be seen from the middle of the piazza.
From Piazza Cavour it's a 7 minute walk (550 metres) to the most impressive religious building in the city. Located at the north-western fringe of the city centre, the Basilica di Sant'Andrea is a 13th century Romanesque structure with a memorable, multi-coloured facade.
Continuing a similar distance (5 minutes/400 metres) in a clockwise direction from the Basilica di Sant'Andrea, Vercelli Cathedral is the second major church in the city that finds itself tucked away on the fringes, this time on one side of a large roundabout. Also within the cathedral complex are the Episcopal Palace and Museum.
Heading south from the Cathedral on Via Duomo, passing the Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore, you eventually arrive back at the area around Piazza Cavour. Further sights in this part of the city include the Museo Borgogna art gallery, the Torre di Città and the Vercelli Synagogue.
Vercelli's train station is situated in the same area of the city as the Basilica di Sant'Andrea, a 10 minute walk of 800 metres. Trains from here run south west to Turin (Porta Nuova) with a journey time of 57 minutes, or 17 minutes in the opposite direction to Novara, a train that continues on to Milan (Milano Centrale) with a total journey time of 56 minutes.
The most convenient airports for Vercelli are Turin Airport which is a 50 minute drive away (82 km) and Milan's Malpensa Airport which is 51 minutes and 55 kilometres by car. A third alternative is Milan Linate Airport which is an hour and 7 minutes (101 km).
In terms of places to visit nearby, Vercelli sits roughly halfway between two major cities: Turin and Milan, each of which are an hour or so away. Even closer and to the north are the Piedmontese towns of Biella, and Ivrea or heading south, Asti, Casale Monferrato and Alessandria in the important Monferrato wine-growing region with its beautiful vineyard landscapes.
Heading east over the regional border into Lombardy there are the impressive cities of Pavia and Vigevano while another Piemontese city, Novara is closest of all and well worth a visit.
From Piazza Cavour it's a 7 minute walk (550 metres) to the most impressive religious building in the city. Located at the north-western fringe of the city centre, the Basilica di Sant'Andrea is a 13th century Romanesque structure with a memorable, multi-coloured facade.
Continuing a similar distance (5 minutes/400 metres) in a clockwise direction from the Basilica di Sant'Andrea, Vercelli Cathedral is the second major church in the city that finds itself tucked away on the fringes, this time on one side of a large roundabout. Also within the cathedral complex are the Episcopal Palace and Museum.
Heading south from the Cathedral on Via Duomo, passing the Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore, you eventually arrive back at the area around Piazza Cavour. Further sights in this part of the city include the Museo Borgogna art gallery, the Torre di Città and the Vercelli Synagogue.
Vercelli's train station is situated in the same area of the city as the Basilica di Sant'Andrea, a 10 minute walk of 800 metres. Trains from here run south west to Turin (Porta Nuova) with a journey time of 57 minutes, or 17 minutes in the opposite direction to Novara, a train that continues on to Milan (Milano Centrale) with a total journey time of 56 minutes.
The most convenient airports for Vercelli are Turin Airport which is a 50 minute drive away (82 km) and Milan's Malpensa Airport which is 51 minutes and 55 kilometres by car. A third alternative is Milan Linate Airport which is an hour and 7 minutes (101 km).
In terms of places to visit nearby, Vercelli sits roughly halfway between two major cities: Turin and Milan, each of which are an hour or so away. Even closer and to the north are the Piedmontese towns of Biella, and Ivrea or heading south, Asti, Casale Monferrato and Alessandria in the important Monferrato wine-growing region with its beautiful vineyard landscapes.
Heading east over the regional border into Lombardy there are the impressive cities of Pavia and Vigevano while another Piemontese city, Novara is closest of all and well worth a visit.
Comune di Vercelli
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Province: Vercelli
Region: Piedmont Population: 45,425 (source: ISTAT 1 January 2022) Size: 80 km² Elevation: 130 metres Highlights: Basilica di Sant'Andrea, Piazza Cavour, cathedral Close by: Varallo Sesia, Sacro Monte di Varallo, Casale Monferrato Recommended accommodation: Hotel Garibaldi |
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Public transport: central train station, local buses
By train: Novara - 17 minutes, Turin - 57 minutes |
By car: Novara - 33 mins (25 km), Alessandria - 38 mins (56 km)
Fly to: Turin Airport - 50 minutes (82 km) |
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