Information about Gattinara in the Province of Vercelli
This used to be a medieval free trade area positioned on the right bank of the river Sesia, on the road which connects Vercelli to Valsesia. It is a small city which is, above all, famous for its fine homonymous Gattinara D.O.C.G. wine from the Nebbiolo vineyards.
The historical centre has maintained the traditional setting of the ancient village which developed around the main road and is ringed by sometimes majestic arcades.
At the north east end of the city there is the Parish of Saint Peter (XIV century), which has a lombardic-gothic style brick façade with decorations in fired ceramics; The other parts of the building were reorganised in 1800. The actual key shaped layout was designed by the architect Pietro Del mastro from Gattinara.
There are other noteworthy religious buildings: the Church of Saint Francis, at the entrance of the village, inside of which it is possible to admire the precious main wooden altar; the Church of Saint Martha, XV century; the Church of Saint Rosario which has important paintings from the giovenioniana school. Lastly, the second parish of Gattinara, Saint Bernard, is dedicated to the fourteenth century church of Saint Bernard, which is today in ruins.
Amongst the noteworthy civil buildings there are the Communal Palace of Del Mastro, the remains of Saint Lawrence Castle and the Castle towers, these are symbols of Gattinara and date back to the XI century.
Two kilometres from the village centre stands the Santuary of Saint Mary of Rado, this is one of the biggest churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the higher part of the Vercelli region. The first testomony of the existance of the parish dates back to the X century but the site can certanly be considered even older. Roman tiles have been found amongst the reused material which lays within the contemporary architechural structures. In addition to this the place name of the site truly reconnects it to the famous Raudi Camps, which was the theatre of the defeat of Cimbri by Caio Mario in 101 B.C.
Among the internal fittings the baroch main altar made of polychrome marble and the fifteenth century wooden statue of a Black Madonna, protector of the community of Gattinara, are particularly interesting.
Among the gatherings we remind you of the enogastronomic review “Nebbioli Month”, the Camminmangiando (N.d.T. Walk and eat) and the grape party in September.
In Gattinara there are the headquaters of the ‘Piemont Region Stock of Vintage Wines”
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