Novara

Day Trips

Arrive in Novara and settle into your historic accommodation near the city center. Wander through the elegant porticoes lining Corso Italia and take in the morning light on the pastel facades. Stop at a local café for a rich cappuccino and a fresh brioche.

Take a leisurely stroll to Piazza Martiri della Libertà, admiring the ornate duomo façade and the silent grandeur of the Arengo Palace. Snack on local focaccia while watching street musicians practice in the square. Pop into boutique shops to browse leather goods and artisanal pastries.

Enjoy dinner at a family-run osteria serving risotto alla novarese with mature gorgonzola. Sample a glass of Erbaluce di Caluso as the sun sets over the city rooftops. End your evening with gelato from a historic gelateria before returning to your lodging.

Begin with a guided tour of the Novara Cathedral, marveling at the intricate neoclassical architecture and frescoed ceilings. Climb the campanile for panoramic views over Novara’s red-tiled roofs. Stop at a nearby pasticceria for amaretti cookies and espresso.

Explore the hidden courtyards behind Piazza della Repubblica, discovering Renaissance fountains and wrought-iron balconies. Visit local artisan workshops to see pottery and glassblowing demonstrations. Pause at a wine bar for light bites of local salumi and olives.

Head to Broletto Square to savor an aperitivo with Aperol Spritz and cicchetti like mounted Tuscan ham. As dusk falls, watch the medieval towers light up against the night sky. Dine al fresco at a trattoria overlooking the illuminated facades.

Make your way to the Basilica del Santo Spirito to admire its peaceful cloister and early Christian mosaics. Join the monastery’s morning bell ringing ritual for an authentic spiritual atmosphere. Enjoy tea in the adjacent gardens surrounded by centuries-old olive trees.

Stroll along the banks of the River Agogna, pausing to observe migratory birds in the reedbeds. Cross the 15th-century stone bridge and visit local potters plying their craft by the riverside. Lunch on panzerotti filled with tomato, mozzarella, and basil at a waterside kiosk.

Return to the basilica after sunset to admire the soft glow of its buttresses. Enjoy a plated dinner in a nearby café, sampling the region’s famed salami all’aringa. End your night with a peaceful walk beneath the illuminated arches of Ponte dei Molli.

Rise early to explore the Porta Milano market, where stalls overflow with seasonal produce and cured meats. Chat with vendors about traditional Novara offerings like gorgonzola dolce and rosette salami. Taste fresh farm cheeses and sip a glass of chilled white from nearby vineyards.

Participate in a cooking demonstration with a local chef using market finds to prepare classic dishes. Learn to roll homemade agnolotti and craft savory fritto misto. Sample your creations alongside a glass of local red wine under a canopy of vine-laced trellis.

Head to a hidden enoteca for a guided tasting of Barbera and Nebbiolo from the Monferrato hills. Pair each pour with artisanal bread and slow-roasted porchetta. Conclude with a scoop of crema gelato perched by lamplit fountains in Piazza Martiri.

Catch a train to Orta San Giulio and wander along the lakefront promenade as dawn breaks. Embark on a short boat ride to Isola San Giulio to explore its silent lanes and ornate basilica. Pause at a lakeside café for cappuccino with a view of the Alps reflected on the water.

Return to the mainland for lunch at a trattoria serving pike-perch fillets baked in aromatic herbs. Stroll through the medieval Borgo di Orta, browsing linen shops and lace boutiques. Relax in the Parco della Villa Crespi, admiring exotic plants in the sun-dappled gardens.

Journey back to Novara and indulge in dinner at a riverside restaurant along the Agogna. Choose from wood-fired pizzas topped with local sausage and truffled cheese. Close the evening with a twilight aperitif in Piazza della Repubblica.

Begin at Galleria d’Arte Moderna CriolloCona to view contemporary Italian painters and sculptors. Attend a curator’s talk on the evolution of Lombard art from the Middle Ages to modern times. Pause for espresso and biscotti in the museum café beneath soaring glass walls.

Visit the Civic Museum of Novara housed in an ancient monastery to trace regional history through artifacts and tapestries. Admire the Roman sarcophagi and medieval weaponry on display. Enjoy a light lunch of mixed vegetable antipasti at the museum bistro.

Reserve seats for a performance at Teatro Coccia, catching a dynamic opera or ballet. Dress up and immerse in the sumptuous interior adorned with gilt and velvet. Sip a post-show Merlot on the terrace while the city lights shimmer by.

Drive into the rolling Monferrato hills as dawn mist lifts from vine rows. Arrive at a family-run winery in Coazzolo for a hands-on vineyard tour. Learn vine pruning techniques and taste freshly pressed grape must in the sunlit cellar.

Settle under an oak tree for a rustic picnic with local salami, aged fontina, and Monferrato red wines. Wander through the medieval village of Coazzolo, admiring stone houses and panoramic viewpoints. Sample honey and preserved fruits at a nearby farm stand.

Return to Novara for dinner at a gourmet restaurant showcasing seasonal Piedmont ingredients. Try agnolotti del plin with butter-sage sauce paired with delicate Nebbiolo. End the evening with handcrafted chocolate truffles and a nightcap of grappa.

Embark on a day trip to Valsesia, traveling through pine forested valleys toward Alagna. Hop on the panoramic chairlift for sweeping views of Monte Rosa’s snow-capped peaks. Sip hot tea at a mountain hut before starting a gentle riverside hike.

Follow marked trails along the Sesia River, pausing at cascading waterfalls to rest and photograph the scenery. Picnic beside a mossy bank on artisan bread, cheese, and cured ham. Try your hand at fly fishing under the guidance of a local angler.

Return to Novara and freshen up at your hotel. Visit a rustic pizzeria for wood-fired classics topped with local sausage and porcini mushrooms. Wander back through moonlit streets, breathing in the crisp autumn air.

Join a hands-on pasta-making workshop in a historic palazzo’s vaulted kitchen. Learn to craft tajarin ribbons dusted with fresh truffle shavings and egg-rich dough. Savor an espresso alongside your instructor’s homemade biscotti.

Travel to a family salumeria to discover the art of curing meats. Observe hams hanging in cellars and taste samples of lardo and prosciutto. Head to a local dairy to watch cheese aging and wrap up with a creamy tasting flight.

Settle in for a communal feast at the palazzo featuring the day’s pasta, salumi, and cheeses. Raise a toast with Moscato d’Asti beneath candlelit chandeliers. Share stories with new friends by the glow of centuries-old frescoes.

Take a final wander through the city’s flower market, selecting vivid chrysanthemums and cyclamens. Sip morning coffee at a hidden courtyard café as street performers set up for the day. Photograph the pastel porticoes one last time.

Visit local boutiques to pick up artisan chocolates, handmade ceramics, and bottles of elixir di Novara. Squeeze in a gelato break at your favorite trattoria before collecting luggage. Reflect on cherished moments during a sunlit bench vigil in Piazza Martiri.

Dine at a rooftop terrace overlooking the illuminated dome of the cathedral. Enjoy a celebratory glass of spumante paired with creamy panna cotta. End your Novara journey with a moonlit stroll along the silent porticoes.