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Visualizzazione dei post da settembre, 2025

Discover Borgomanero!

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  Strolling through this town in the northern part of the Novara province . Borgomanero  is a municipality in the Novara province (Piedmont), located 308 metres above sea level, on the left bank of the Agogna river. It is just a few kilometres away from Lake Orta, Lake Maggiore, and the Mottarone Massif, and is situated 30 kilometres from the provincial capital. The town has ancient origins, with roots that almost certainly date back to the Roman era and definitely to the medieval period. An old legend tells of thirteen people, known as the "Thirteen Ogres", who, on their way back from a pilgrimage to San Giulio Island, founded the small village on the banks of the Agogna river. The same legend also explains the origin of the  tapulon , a stew made from donkey meat, a typical dish of Borgomanero. These thirteen individuals created what is now a famous and delicate dish using the humble ingredients they had at hand, namely the meat of the donkey that had carried their lugg...

Discovering Alessandria

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  A stroll through the Piedmontese city with the largest citadel in Europe. Alessandria is a municipality in the Piedmont region of Italy and the capital of the province of the same name. It lies at the confluence of the Tanaro and Bormida rivers, in the western part of the Marengo plain, and is considered the coldest city in the Po Valley. An important railway hub and a commercial and industrial centre, Alessandria is especially well known in the textile sector, notably for the famous manufacturing company founded in 1857 that created numerous models of hats under the “Borsalino” brand. Moreover, the Piedmontese goldsmithing tradition boasts a long history, particularly concentrated in Alessandria, which still preserves goldsmith’s punches dating back to the late 16th century. The city was founded in 1168 by the Lombard League during its conflict with Emperor Frederick I, known as “Barbarossa”, who attempted to besiege the city between 1174 and 1175 without success. It was name...

A Stroll Through the Monregalese Region

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  Discover this area of Piedmont, in the Province of Cuneo. The Langa Monregalese unfolds on both sides of the Tanaro River , amid villages steeped in the charm of ancient rural traditions. This area stretches from Dogliani towards the Ligurian Alps and is renowned for the cultivation of Dolcetto grapes , from which the Dolcetto delle Langhe Monregalesi wine is produced. This is a stunning and richly diverse land where everything seems to come together: mountains, endless rolling hills, valleys, rivers, streams, forests, mountain huts, art cities, churches, sanctuaries, museums, and frescoed Romanesque and Gothic chapels. Noteworthy among its natural wonders are three accessible caves: Bossea , Caudano , and Dossi . This land has an endless history, with hidden traditions in every corner, wrapped in an aura of unmatched beauty. The area also boasts a thriving artisan tradition , particularly focused on agriculture, wood and ironwork, and high-quality food production. A small ...

The Magnificent Sanctuary of Vicoforte

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  Discover this fascinating site, dominated by its majestic dome. The Sanctuary of Vicoforte, also known as the “Sanctuary of the Nativity of Mary” or “Basilica Sanctuary Regina Montis Regalis”, is located in the municipality of Vicoforte, in the province of Cuneo. It is a striking sacred building, one of the most important in the Piedmont region, and its horizontally elliptical dome—entirely frescoed—is the largest in the world of its kind. In 1935, the Sanctuary was elevated to the dignity of a Minor Basilica and belongs to the Diocese of Mondovì. Furthermore, since 1880, it has been recognised as a national monument. This grand architectural complex has its origins in a medieval sanctuary, which consisted of a small shrine decorated with a 15th-century fresco of the “Madonna and Child”, likely built by a brickmaker at the end of the 15th century to ensure the successful firing of his bricks. The priest Cesare Trombetta, considered the founder of the Sanctuary of Vicoforte, be...