What to See in the Province of Novara: Lakes, Castles, and Villages

If you're passing through Arona, don't miss the Colossus of San Carlo Borromeo, also known as San Carlone. It's a 35-meter copper giant that has dominated Lake Maggiore for nearly 400 years. For almost two centuries it was the tallest statue in the world, surpassed only by the Statue of Liberty in New York – which, by the way, was inspired by this colossus. Yes, you read that right: the sculptor Bartholdi came to Arona to study it!
The statue is hollow and can be visited inside. Through a small door hidden in the folds of the rochet, you climb up spiral staircases and steep ship's ladders to the head. From the top, you look out through the eyes, nose, and ears, while from the shoulders you enjoy an incredible panorama of Lake Maggiore and the Rocca di Angera. The climb is narrow and not suitable for those with claustrophobia, but the view repays every effort.
Around the statue there is a botanical park with ancient trees and picnic tables, perfect for a break. The ticket costs €7 for the panoramic terrace and the park, €10 to go inside the statue (free with the Musei Piemonte subscription). Open daily from 10:00 to 18:30 (last entry at 18:00), at least until October. Also worth a stop is the nearby Church of San Carlo, with the Room of the Three Lakes and the saint's relics. In short, the Sancarlone is much more than a statue: it's an experience that blends history, engineering, and a breathtaking view.

The Rocca Borromea of Arona is far more than a pile of ruins: it's a dive into history with a panorama that takes your breath away. Perched on a dolomitic hill, it dominates Lake Maggiore and offers spectacular views of the Lombard shore and the castle of Angera. Here, in 1538, Saint Charles Borromeo was born, and you can still see the remains of the room where he came into the world. The ancient fortress was destroyed by order of Napoleon between 1800 and 1801, but what remains is fascinating: three fortified enclosures with twelve towers (only the bases visible), the keep, the 11th-century Romanesque oratory of Sant'Ambrogio, and the Hall of Arms. The park, opened to the public in 2011 after a long period of neglect, is now a perfect place for families: there is a playground, a bar-restaurant, and even small animals like goats and donkeys. The Rocca is easily reachable on foot from the center of Arona (via Cantoni) or by car from via alla Rocca: a short dirt road and you're up there. The view is unmatched, and strolling among the fortress ruins makes you feel like a time traveler. Admission is free, and from spring it is open daily until sunset. A tip: bring a camera, because the sunset over the lake is pure magic.

If there's one monument that leaves an impression when you arrive in Novara, it's the Basilica of San Gaudenzio. That soaring dome, 121 meters high (126 including the statue of the Savior), you see it from afar—from the highway, from the boulevards leading into the center. It's a landmark that stays with you. And the closer you get, the more you realize how colossal it is. Built entirely of brick and lime by Alessandro Antonelli between 1840 and 1878, it's one of the tallest masonry structures in the world. A marvel of engineering without the use of iron, still astonishing today.

But the basilica is more than just its dome. Stepping inside, you're struck by the single-nave interior, with six side chapels rich in artworks. In the Nativity Chapel, there's a stunning polyptych by Gaudenzio Ferrari from 1516. The frescoes by Tanzio da Varallo in the Guardian Angel Chapel, depicting the Battle of Sennacherib, are a riot of color and pathos. And then there's the Scurolo, the octagonal chapel that houses the saint's remains in a silver urn, accessible only during the patronal feast on January 22.

Don't miss the climb to the dome, guided by the Kalatà association. With helmet and harness, you go up to 100 meters: breathtaking views of the city and, on clear days, the skyscrapers of Milan. An experience combining thrill and beauty. And if you have time, stop to admire the wrought-iron chandelier in the center of the nave, recalling the miracle of the flowers of San Gaudenzio. The basilica is open daily with free entry—a treasure to explore unhurriedly.

If you are passing through Novara, a must-see is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which dominates Piazza della Repubblica. Don't be fooled by its neoclassical façade, the work of Alessandro Antonelli (the same architect of the Mole Antonelliana): history here dates back to the 4th century, when an early Christian basilica stood on a temple of Jupiter. The cathedral you see today was rebuilt between 1863 and 1869, but it preserves precious remnants of the past. The real gem is the Romanesque floor mosaic of the presbytery, dating from 1130-1140, depicting Adam and Eve and the four rivers of Paradise. A piece of the Middle Ages that survived the transformations. Inside, the imposing columns made of stucco imitation marble will make you feel small. Don't miss the Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine by Gaudenzio Ferrari, a 16th-century panel that deserves a pause. If you are a fan of sacred art, the Chapel of San Siro preserves Romanesque frescoes with a Christ Pantocrator that will leave you awestruck. And just a few steps away, the Early Christian Baptistery (4th-5th century) is the oldest monument in Novara: octagonal in plan, with fragments of apocalyptic frescoes. Little bonus: the interior lighting was completely renovated in 2021 by a world-renowned lighting designer, reducing consumption from 20 to 5 KW. An example of how tradition and innovation can coexist. Opening hours: daily 7-12 and 15-18, Sunday until 21:30. Free entry, but bring some coins for maintenance.

If you are passing through Novara, a must-see is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which dominates Piazza della Repubblica. Don't be fooled by its neoclassical façade, the work of Alessandro Antonelli (the same architect of the Mole Antonelliana): history here dates back to the 4th century, when an early Christian basilica stood on a temple of Jupiter. The cathedral you see today was rebuilt between 1863 and 1869, but it preserves precious remnants of the past. The real gem is the Romanesque floor mosaic of the presbytery, dating from 1130-1140, depicting Adam and Eve and the four rivers of Paradise. A piece of the Middle Ages that survived the transformations. Inside, the imposing columns made of stucco imitation marble will make you feel small. Don't miss the Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine by Gaudenzio Ferrari, a 16th-century panel that deserves a pause. If you are a fan of sacred art, the Chapel of San Siro preserves Romanesque frescoes with a Christ Pantocrator that will leave you awestruck. And just a few steps away, the Early Christian Baptistery (4th-5th century) is the oldest monument in Novara: octagonal in plan, with fragments of apocalyptic frescoes. Little bonus: the interior lighting was completely renovated in 2021 by a world-renowned lighting designer, reducing consumption from 20 to 5 KW. An example of how tradition and innovation can coexist. Opening hours: daily 7-12 and 15-18, Sunday until 21:30. Free entry, but bring some coins for maintenance.

The Visconteo-Sforzesco Castle in Novara is one of those places you don't expect. It stands imposing in Piazza Martiri della Libertà, with its towers and moat, but inside it holds centuries of transformations. Its roots go back to Roman times (1st century AD), when it was an outwork of the city walls. Walking through the courtyard, you can still see a stretch of Roman wall made of pebbles and oversized bricks: incredible. In the Middle Ages, first the Visconti and then the Sforza fortified it: Matteo Visconti built the Mirabella tower, while Galeazzo Maria Sforza gave the castle its current quadrangular shape in 1468. The Sforza coat of arms in Carrara marble above the second gate is a detail not to be missed. For nearly two centuries (1803-1973) it served as a prison, housing notable inmates like Claretta Petacci. Then came abandonment, restorations (the latest from 2003 to 2016), and today it's a gem returned to the city. The courtyard is open daily from 7 am to 7 pm, free of charge. The interior halls are only open during exhibitions or events: every time I pass by, I check the schedule. The feeling of being in a place that has seen Romans, dukes, soldiers, and prisoners is powerful. I recommend pairing the visit with the Giardini dell'Allea di San Luca, right next door.

If you're passing through Novara, don't miss the Teatro Coccia, the city's main theater and one of the most important in Piedmont. Inaugurated between 1886 and 1888, it replaced the old Teatro Nuovo, which had become too small for a growing city. Named after the Novara-born composer Carlo Coccia, who served as maestro of the Cathedral Chapel for over thirty years, the theater is a masterpiece of architectural elegance and flawless acoustics. With its 900 seats (or 768 according to other sources, but rest assured the auditorium feels intimate and enveloping), it offers an incredibly rich program: opera, theater, symphonic music, dance, contemporary performances, and even family events. Each season features classics like Madama Butterfly, La Traviata, or Don Giovanni, alongside innovative commissions: in 2020, for example, it produced Cassandra, in te dormiva un sogno, an opera designed to be enjoyed also via streaming. The theater also hosts the Premio Guido Cantelli, an international competition for young conductors, and the AMO Academy, which trains new generations of artists and technicians. In short, it's a vibrant place, breathing culture, and well worth a visit—ideally timed with a performance. The entrance is at via Fratelli Rosselli 47, easily reachable on foot from the city center.

If you're looking for a day out of the ordinary, Safari Park Pombia is just what you need. Founded in 1976, it was revitalized by Orfeo Triberti in 1999 and is now run by the De Rocchi family. Spread over a whopping 450,000 sq m, this massive area combines two worlds: the safari park and the pedestrian zone. The safari drive is done comfortably by car (or via a paid train): you drive about 5 km among zebras, giraffes, lions, hippos, and tigers. Windows must stay closed, but the thrill of seeing a rhino just a meter away is incredible. Watch out for weekend queues – better to pick a weekday!

After the drive, you get out and explore the pedestrian area. Here you'll find a reptile house, aquarium, insectarium, and a Jurassic Park with life-sized dinosaurs. Daily shows include sea lions, parrots, birds of prey, and an equestrian show called "Horses and Spain." Kids go wild for the Far West farm and the lemur area.

The amusement park features about a dozen rides (Ferris wheel, log flume, pirate ship) and a 5D cinema. If you come in summer, there's also the Safari Beach with water slides. For dining, there are self-service restaurants and picnic areas.

A highlight is the commitment to conservation: the park has a foundation called SOS Elephants to protect Bornean elephants, and in 2006 it saw the birth of Ashanti, Italy's first white lioness.

Practical info: address Via Larino 3, Pombia. Open year-round (hours vary, check the website). Adult ticket €29, reduced €22, discounted online. Free parking. Tip: arrive early and start with the safari!

If you're looking for a day trip that combines nature, conservation, and a touch of adventure, Parco Faunistico La Torbiera is a must-see. Located in Agrate Conturbia, in the province of Novara, this biodiversity hotspot spans 40 hectares of woods, ponds, and, as the name suggests, peat bogs. Founded in 1977, it's not just a zoo but a true breeding and research center for endangered species, many from the Palearctic region. Here you can meet about 400 individuals of 130 different species, including the red panda, the snow leopard, and the very rare Pallas's cat. The loop trail around the pond leads you through spacious, well-maintained enclosures with glass barriers that let you observe the animals without disturbing them. And if you're lucky, you might catch some crepuscular activity, when many felines become more lively. The park takes part in international conservation programs (such as the one for the European mink, which has just arrived here) and is a member of EAZA. For the little ones, there are educational workshops, while for everyone, a picnic area and a refreshment point make the day even more enjoyable. Admission is €15 (full price), with discounts for children and seniors. Open from March to September, closed on Fridays and during winter months. In short, a place that does good for the soul and your craving for nature.

Castello di Massino Visconti is one of those places that grabs you even before you step inside. Perched on a terraced slope, it overlooks Lake Maggiore with a breathtaking view. Its origins? 11th century, when it was a monastery for the monks of San Gallo. Then, in 1139, the Visconti family arrived and turned it into their countryside residence. Today, the castle is a mix of eras: the central tower (the keep) is the only truly fortified part, while the surrounding buildings date from the 17th-18th centuries. Strolling through the courtyards, you'll notice a small balcony called “arengo”: from there, the Visconti addressed the people, a sort of balcony of power. And then there's the dark side: prisons, trapdoors, and a well with steel blades still visible. Spine-chilling stuff! Today, the castle is privately owned and hosts events, but unfortunately it can only be visited from the outside. If you're curious, stop by Massino Visconti – you might even catch a costume wedding. And if fate knocks, who knows, you might meet some soul from the past. A tip: bring your camera, the view over the lake is stunning.

Sforza Castle of Galliate is one of the best-preserved gems in the province of Novara. Built between 1476 and 1496 by order of Galeazzo Maria Sforza and completed by Ludovico il Moro, it stands on the foundations of a pre-existing Visconti fortress. The project was entrusted to military architects Ambrogio Ferrari and Danesio Mainerio, who created an imposing structure: a quadrilateral layout measuring 108×80 meters, with walls over 3 meters thick and four corner towers rising about 13 meters. The moat, now dry, originally reached a width of 20 meters. Inside, 19th-century transformations left precious traces: in the eastern wing, a neo-Renaissance portico and the council hall with stucco decorations stand out, while the southwest wing houses the civic library with the evocative Pink Room, Stucco Room, and Coat of Arms Room, frescoed between the 17th and 19th centuries. Not to be missed: the northeast tower, home to the Angelo Bozzola Museum of Contemporary Art, with over 140 works by the sculptor from Galliate, and the Achille Varzi Museum Room, dedicated to the famous racing driver. Trivia: inside a tower, a mysterious cylindrical structure is preserved, which some scholars hypothesize to be the rotisserie designed by Leonardo da Vinci, resembling a drawing from the Codex Atlanticus. The castle is open from April to June with guided tours (full ticket €6, reduced €4). A place that blends history, art, and charm, perfect for a day trip in the Novara area.

If you think castles are just dusty ruins, Castello Dal Pozzo will change your mind. In Oleggio Castello, a stone's throw from Arona, this estate is an incredible mix of history and modern luxury. Its origins date back to the 10th century, when a Roman castrum stood here, later expanded by the Visconti. But the real showstopper is thanks to Marquis Claudio Dal Pozzo d'Annone, who in the 19th century transformed it into a Victorian neo-Gothic jewel, complete with crenellated towers and fairytale interiors. Today it's a 5-star resort, but you can visit on select dates (check the 2026 calendar!). Tickets cost €15 and guided tours start at 10 am in Italian and 11 am in English. Don't miss the 23-hectare park with a lake, deer, and herons: it feels like a painting. And if you want to impress someone, organize a wedding here: there are 8 halls, an internal chapel, and an infinity pool with lake views. I've wandered around and I tell you: the contrast between the greenery and Tudor style is incredible. The only downside? Parking is paid, but it's worth it.

Overlooking the Ticino River, the Visconteo Castle of Castelletto sopra Ticino is a gem that tells centuries of history. First mentioned in 1145, when the Da Castello family owned a fortified residence, it later passed to the Torriani and, from 1329, to the Visconti by will of Louis the Bavarian. In the 15th century, after the death of Gian Galeazzo, the castle was divided between Ermes and Lancellotto Visconti. A prominent figure was Giovanni Maria Visconti, Count of Sesto Calende and ally of Ludovico il Moro, who in 1495 assembled a fleet on the Ticino to defend the Milanese from the French. His brother Alberto added the predicate "d'Aragona" to their surname in 1471, and his descendants lived there until the 20th century.

The original architecture was a quadrilateral layout with four corner towers, of which only two survive today, heavily damaged on the river side. The original pebble masonry has been reinforced with square-cut stones over the centuries. On the main façade stands out the coat of arms of the Visconti d'Aragona in white stone from Angera. Inside, the Sala degli Stemmi (Hall of Coats of Arms) is decorated with the Visconti biscione and the imperial eagle, along with the crests of the Perrone di San Martino and Visconti Ornavasso families. The Venetian-style terrazzo floor features the Visconti coat of arms, while the ceiling has been recently restored.

In the 17th century, the castle lost its defensive function and became a country residence, passing to the Savoy in 1748. It was a source of inspiration for the historical novel "Marco Visconti" by Tommaso Grossi. Today, it is still inhabited by descendants, but since 2013, thanks to an agreement with the municipality, the Sala degli Stemmi hosts civil wedding ceremonies. Access is possible only by prior arrangement with the owners. I recommend contacting them for a visit: the English-style park surrounding the fortress is truly worth a stroll.

If you pass through San Nazzaro Sesia, don't miss the Abbey of Saints Nazarius and Celsus. Founded around 1040 by Bishop Riprando and the counts of Biandrate, it is a rare example of a fortified Benedictine abbey. Its strategic position along the via Regis, near a ford on the Sesia, made it a defensive outpost. The Romanesque bell tower, 35 meters tall and built between 1055 and 1075, dominates the countryside: with its herringbone stonework and hanging arches, it looks like a watchtower. And indeed it was, because during conflicts between Novara and Vercelli it served as a refuge for the local population. Inside, the contrast with the 15th-century cloister is striking: here in the mid-1400s, Abbot Antonio Barbavara rebuilt almost everything in Lombard Gothic style, leaving only the tower and the Romanesque quadriporticus intact. The cloister houses a cycle of frescoes on the Life of Saint Benedict, unfortunately deteriorated but still legible in some parts: scenes of monastic life told with an almost fairy-tale touch. Inside the church, which has three naves, two late-15th-century frescoes stand out: a Saint Nazarius on Horseback from 1480 and a Madonna Enthroned with Child among angels. The atmosphere is intimate, far from mass tourism. After the Napoleonic suppressions, the abbey became a farmhouse, and restoration only began in the mid-20th century. Today it is managed by a cultural association that organizes concerts and visits. A tip? Come in the late afternoon, when the low light caresses the bricks and silence envelops you.

Perched on a hill at the southeastern end of Lake Orta, Buccione Castle (also known as the Tower of Buccione) is a medieval gem worth a stop. Its tower, 23.20 meters high and built of squared stone blocks, has dominated the landscape for over eight centuries. Built in the third quarter of the 12th century by the Counts Da Castello, it served as a watchtower and signaling post: its bell, cast in 1610, called men to gather in times of danger, and on November 4, 1918, it rang to announce the end of World War I. After restoration, it was repositioned on the tower in 2005. Until recently, the tower could only be visited from the outside, but from July 2025, thanks to safety works and the installation of stairs, it is possible to climb inside and enjoy a 360-degree panorama: Lake Orta, Monte Rosa, and the Alpine chain. Visits are possible on Sundays from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM in August and September, with mandatory reservation (info: 0322 905163 or infoturismo@comune.ortasangiulio.no.it). The castle courtyard is always accessible free of charge. Getting there is an experience: I followed the Sentiero Azzurro from the Sacro Monte d'Orta, a walk of about an hour through woods and sudden glimpses. Climbing up there, feeling the wind and the silence, is like stepping back in time. I recommend combining the visit with a boat trip on the lake or a stroll in Orta San Giulio: Buccione Castle is the perfect excuse to get lost in this enchanted riviera.

Immersed among the Novara hills, the Castello Ricetto di Ghemme is much more than a simple castle: it is an entire fortified village that seems to have stepped out of a history book. Built between the 11th and 15th centuries by the inhabitants to defend against raids, this rectangular complex of 12,000 square meters is one of the best preserved in Piedmont. Its structure is unique: a central street from which narrow alleys and inner courtyards branch off, with herringbone pebble walls and pointed arch windows. Walking among the houses, you can still breathe the medieval atmosphere, thanks also to the renovated cobblestones and lighting that creates atmospheric light effects in the evening.

An important piece of history: in 1467, the Duke of Milan Galeazzo Maria Sforza stayed here to sign the Peace of Ghemme with the Duchy of Savoy, an event that brought a long period of peace. The perimeter walls, about four meters high, still retain the Ghibelline battlements, while at the southwest corner a cylindrical tower stands, a silent witness to the past. Originally the castle was surrounded by a moat, filled in the 19th century, and access was via a drawbridge.

Today the ricetto is more alive than ever: its cellars house the production of Ghemme DOCG wine, a full-bodied red made from Nebbiolo that ages in the same medieval environments. Free and open visit (hours: Saturday 10-12:30 and 14-17:30), with the possibility of guided tours organized by the association Noi del Castello (info@noidelcastello.com). A place that combines history, architecture, and food and wine: perfect for a day trip.