Novara is a beautiful “city of art” which is reflected in its many interesting historic buildings, such as the Pyramid of Novara, Broletto and the Basilica of San Gaudenzio. Additionally, the city enchants with nice parks (Parco Naturale delle Lame del Sesia and Parco dei Bambini). Here you will find restaurants with authentic Italian food. It invites you to explore Novara.
Novara is a city and comune in the Piedmont region of Italy, in the province of Novara, located in the north-west of the country, west of Milan.
Drive:
- By plane
The main reference airports are:
1 Milan Malpensa International Airport (IATA: MXP) – Terminal 1: 32 km, Terminal 2: 35 km
- By rail
Novara FS station
Novara is served by two railway stations:
2 Novara FS, which is on the lines Turin – Milan, Alessandria – Arona, Biella – Novara, Novara – Domodossola, Novara – Oleggio and Novara – Varallo (currently suspended).
3 Novara Nord, main station of the Novara – Milan Cadorna line.
There is also a third station in the Vignale district, from which only local trains run on the Novara-Arona line.
- By car
The city is served by two toll plazas on the A4 Turin-Trieste motorway:
Novara Ovest (8 km from the center), for those coming from Turin;
Novara Est (6 km from the center), for those coming from Milan.
It can also be reached via the A26 Genoa Voltri-Gravellona Toce motorway from the toll plaza:
Vercelli to the east (15 km from the center), for those coming from Genoa.
For those coming from Gravellona Toce, it is recommended to take the A4 section until the Novara Ovest exit.
Novara is partially surrounded by a ring road that connects the national road 32 of Lake Maggiore (towards Arona) in the north with the national road 11 (towards Turin) in the southwest of the city. Strada Statale 11 also connects Milan with Novara.
Organized Trip:
Guided tours Domes in the Basilica of Saint Gaudenzio:
Explore the Dome of St. Gaudenzio, a masterpiece of the architect Alessandro Antonelli, a symbol of Novara and a characteristic element of its panorama. Through corridors that are usually excluded from traditional guided tours, you will be able to trace – wearing a protective helmet and harness – the history of this extraordinary masterpiece of 19th-century architecture and admire exclusive views of the building’s interior. From the large columns surrounding the dome and from the spire, located at a height of 100 meters, you will be able to admire the city from above and admire the panorama stretching from the Alps to the skyscrapers of Milan.
Language: English, Italian
Duration: 2 hours
Address: Via Gaudenzio Ferrari, n. 13, Novara, Novara Province, Italy
Meeting place: Meet at the Gaudenzio Ferrari monument.
MONUMENTS:
- The Ossuary of Bicocca
Pyramid of Bicocca, Corso 23 Marzo 1849 Ossuary monument commemorating the battle fought between the Austrian and Piedmontese armies in 1849 during the First Italian War of Independence.
- Basilica of San Gaudenzio
Novara’s most important church is the Basilica di San Gaudenzio built in 1659 with architecture by Pellegrino Tibaldi. Its dome is 397 feet high, the city’s landmark, heralding from afar the approach to the city. It is also a work of Alessandro Antonelli (completed in 1888) and crowned by a gilded figure of Christ. Inside, one of its most interesting features is the Scurolo, a kind of ground-level crypt, holding the mortal remains of Novara’s patron saint, St. Gaudenzio.
- Novara Castle
Visconteo-Sforzesco Castle The Viscontis built it on the site of a 13th-century fortification; the Sforza family transformed it in the 15th century, turning it into a stronghold. Currently, it houses the Archaeological Museum, the Citizens’ Collection and exhibition rooms.
- Broletto Monumental Complex
The Broletto is a complex of buildings around a square courtyard, from different periods and in different styles. Once used as the Town Hall, the Broletto now houses the Civic Museum and the Lapidary Museum. The collection of the Civic Museum dates from 1874. Started by the “Società Archeologica pel Museo Patrio”, it has been run by Novara City Council since 1890. It comprises an Archaeological section with a rich collection of objects and finds from various historical periods.
- Casa Bossi
Cassa Bossi represents one of the finest examples of 19th-century neoclassical civil architecture. The facility is in a state of neglect and has only recently been partially recovered and made available to visitors.
- Casa Della Porta and Casa Rognoni
Casa Della Porta di Casa Rognoni – Via Cannobio, buildings in the civil Gothic style from the end of the 15th century.
- Casa Quaroni
Casa Quaroni – Baluardo Quintino Sella Art Nouveau building from the beginning of the 20th century.
Entertainment And Culture:
- Coccia Theatre
Teatro Coccia (Coccia Theatre) is the main opera house in Novara (as well as one of the major traditional Italian theatres) and is also the most important “historical” theatres in Piedmont.
- Paolo and Adele Giannoni Gallery of Modern Art
The Paolo and Adele Giannoni Gallery of Modern Art houses masterpieces of contemporary art, perfect for those passionate about innovative artistic trends.
