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Cavour Square

Vercelli is a lovely city center of modest size but with a unique charm: worth seeing are the central Piazza Cavour, the porticoes, the Basilica of Sant’Andrea with the 10th century “Vercelli Book”, the metropolitan cathedral of Sant’Eusebio and the “Arca” exhibition center near the church of San Marco.

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.

Vercelli square seen from under the portico

Square seen from the portico

Magnificent outing in the rice fields of the Po 😊

The Collegiata di Sant’Agata in Santhià, a comune in the province of Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy, is an impressive church located in the central Piazza Roma, not far from the town hall. Although the original Romanesque building from the 12th century has now disappeared, there are still remains of the northern exterior, the semicircular apse and the stone bell tower. The present church, designed by architect Giuseppe Talucchi, was built between 1836 and 1839 in Neoclassical style. The facade is characterized by a large pronao, supported by six columns, with vaults painted by the artist Luigi Hartmann. Inside is a valuable polittico by Gerolamo Giovenone.

The prosperous 13th-century Vercelli is still visible in the town's predominantly medieval layout, dominated by its beautiful basilica. In addition, the Sacred Mountains nearby, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, are an interesting tourist destination in this ancient textile region.