Discover Auzate: Churches, Palazzi and Routes

Cultural and historical highlights in Auzate include the Chiesa di San Biagio, a late-medieval wall painting, and the Palazzo Toni Marietti and Palazzo Vittadini. For route planning, the relevant options are Stage 16 of the Sentiero Novara and the “Colline del basso Cusio” mountain biking route. If you are looking for a hotel in Auzate, you can plan your stay around whether you want to focus on church and architectural history or a particular route.

Routes and Trail Layouts

Stage 16 of the Sentiero Novara reaches Auzate from Gozzano along a paved road via Fontana Santa. From Auzate, an unpaved road leads into the valley of the Grua stream. The “Colline del basso Cusio” mountain biking route follows the signs to Auzate, climbs uphill to the parish church, and then descends along a trail to the Grua stream. Check the Sentiero waymarkers on site; for the mountain biking route, you should also check the condition of the trails.

Church and Wall Painting

The first documented mention of the Chiesa di San Biagio appears in Cardinal Serbelloni’s visitation records from 1568. After renovation work in the first half of the 17th century, Bishop Odescalchi consecrated the church in 1662. These dates distinguish the early written mention, a later period of renovations, and the consecration: 1568 should therefore not be taken as the year the church was built. The church preserves the remains of several martyrs, arranged in a pyramid with a skull at the top. Floral decorations made of fabric and paper adorn the arrangement.

At the corner of Via della Chiesa and Vicolo del pellegrino, a wall painting depicts the enthroned Madonna and Child between Saint Catherine of Alexandria and Saint Anthony the Great. The painting dates from the late 14th century. It therefore predates the first documented mention of the Chiesa di San Biagio.

Palazzi and Gardens

Construction of Palazzo Toni Marietti began under the Toni family between the 16th and 17th centuries; extensions followed in several building phases. The building is still a private residence. The garden was laid out in the 18th century and originally designed in the Italian style. Four flower beds edged with stone, citrus plants in pots, a fountain, and statues define its design. This makes it possible to distinguish the construction history of the palazzo from the later creation of the garden.

Palazzo Vittadini in Auzate was a historic residence owned by the heirs of Stefano Toni. It preserves interior frescoes and stucco decorations, as well as a layout associated with aristocratic life in the 18th and 19th centuries. The palazzo includes a courtyard garden designed according to the principles of an Italian garden. By comparison, the focus at Palazzo Toni Marietti is on its building phases and individual garden features, while at Vittadini it is on the interiors, the layout, and the courtyard garden.

Casa Privata di Auzate can be viewed from outside on the façade of a private house. The house is private, so viewing is limited to the exterior.

Discover more destinations: Lumellogno, Lesa, San Maurizio D'opaglio, Vicolungo, Vaprio D'agogna, Cavallirio, Soriso, Ghemme.

For the wider travel overview: Novara.