Discover the city of Novara in a different way!
here's a list of the main attractions, use the QR Codes to start the listening.
Basilica of San Gaudenzio and Dome
|
The planning of the Basilica of Novara was entrusted to the architect Pellegrino Tibaldi, the works commencing in 1577 and bein completed in 1659. Within the Basilica, the scurolo (Baroque style external crypt) holds the body of Saint Gaudenzio, the patron saint of the town, while the Nativity Chapel holds a famous polyptych by Gaudenzio Ferrari. The chapels are also worthy of note for their extremely valuable Baroque works of art. The exterior features the bell-tower designed by Benedetto Alfieri in the 18th century and the dome designed by Alessandro Antonelli and crowned by Pietro Zucchi's 1878 Statue of the Saviour.
|
Broletto and Giannoni Modern Art Gallery
|
The Broletto complex comprises four buildings from different periods which represent a variety of achitectural, artistic and decorative elements. The site features the 13th century Arengo Palace, the Podestà Palace (14th-15th century), the small 13th century Paratici Palace with his little 18th century loggia facing it, and the Refendari Palace (14th-15th century). The modern Art Gallery ''Paolo e Adele Giannoni'' has been created as part of the programme of celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of Italian Unification in 1861 and features Impressionist and Macchiaioli paintings from various schools, including Fattori, Segantini and Nomellini.
|
Baptistery
|
The paleo-Christian building located in front of the Cathedral dates back to the 4th and 5th centuries, and is the town's oldest monuments. Within the octagonal baptistery rectangular and semi-circular chapels alternate, with frescoes featuring scenes from the Apocalypse (11th century) and the Last Judgment (15th century).
|
Canonicals Museums
|
The Cathedral Museums are located in the east and north sides of the priests' quarters. Dating from the 12th to the 15th centuries, they are approached through evocative 14th century cloisters. Inside, a path leads through twelve rooms divided into two sections: the Cathedral section includes sculptures from the Baptistery, the 5th century Ivory Diptych, and the 15th century chasuble of Saint Bernard, while the second section hosts the archeological museum holding Celtic and Roman stones and epigraphs.
|
Coccia Theatre
|
The theatre was opened in 1888 and is located on the site of and older theatre which was ultimately deemed no longer fitting to the fast-developing needs of the city. It is horseshoes-shaped and has perfect acoustics, with four levels reaching the gallery. The stalls are sustained by small cast iron columns and are decorated with gilded swans. The theatre is proof of the great musical tradition which still makes the city of Novara proud.
|
Visconteo Sforzesco Castle
|
The Castle was built in the 13th century during the reign of the Visconti family where another fort had previously been erected. Drastic modifications were carried out in the 15th century during the rule of Galeazzo Sforza, who transformed it into a real strategic fort by building strong outer walls. The Archeological Museum, the Ancient Art Collection and various exhibition spaces will be located here.
|
Ognissanti Church
|
Dating from 1124, the only surviving Romanesque church in Novara comprises three naves (each with four spans) and a semi-circular altar with an elegant octagonal lantern lit by single and double-paned windows. Several frescoes decorate the interior, including an interesting Madonna with Child (from 1450 approx.)
|
Market Square
|
Surrounded by porticoed houses, the square is in fact triangular in shape, wiht its west corner leading to the Cathedral Square (Piazza Duomo). In medieval times this area was known as ''Piazza delle Beccherie Maggiori'' (major butcheries) where the fifteen stalls of the beccari (butchers), shoemakers and other market sellers who made this selling place the centre of the town's life were located. In 1506 the square was refurbished, and the wood and tile columns were replaced by new serizzo columns in order to achieve a design in line with modern standards, with regular lines of porticoes showing fully curving arches sustained by columns that are partly surmounted by ornate capitols, and partly by Tuscan-style capitols.
|
Roman Walls
|
Novara became a municipium under Julius Cesar and was one of the wealthiest in Northern Italy at the time of the Roman empire. The exhibits in the City Museums and the Lapidary Museum in the Cathedral's priests' quarters date back to this period, as do the remnants of the city walls estimated to have been built in the first century BC and preserved within the city today. These can be seen in Piazza Cavour and Via Solaroli.
|
Faraggiana Ferrandi Museum
|
The museum is located within the Faraggiana building, and was created in 1940 thanks to a donation from Catherine Faraggiana Ferrandi and her son Alessandro, who left the local authority of Novara their collection of exotic stuffed animals which had previously preserved in their family villa in Meina. Further acquisitions and donations increased the size of the collection, which today totals approximately 2500 mammals and birds from all over the wolrd.
|
Cathedral and Saint Siro Chapel
|
The current structure of the Cathedral dates back to the second half of the 19th century, and was designed by Alessandro Antonelli, in neoclassical style. One the the oldest and most precious features of the previous Romanesque Cathedral was the mosaic floor of the presbytery. The works of Bernandino Lanino and The Mystical Wedding of Saint Catherine by Gaudenzio Ferrari are among the cathedral's more noteworthy paintings. The Caphel of Saint Siro, beside the sacristy was built in the 13rd century as a private prayer chamber for the bishop, and contains a series of frescoes of Saint Siro's life. The lower sacristy is also worth nothing for its frescoes by Bernandino Lanino featuring episodes from the life of the Virgin Mary.
|
Cabrino Palace- Town Hall
|
A noble palace built in the 17th century by the Cabrino family in baroque style, the building is today the seat of the town hall of Novara, with precious frescoes from the 17th century by Giovanni Stefano Doneda ( also known as il ''Montalto'') on the first floor.
|
Natta-Isola Palace-
|
Attributed to the architect, sculptor and painter Pellegrino Tibaldi, the building was erected in the second half of the 16th century. The grand official staircase leading to the upper floor with its spacious rooms decorated by elegant Degiorgi frescoes is of particularity great effect. The international square-shaped courtyard is also very interesting, and is surrounded by a series of tapered Doric columns, featuring a frieze trabeation alternating metopes and triglyphs. Novara's provincial and prefect's offices now occupy the building.
|
Download the map of the city! |