Ghemme: Castello-Ricetto, Churches and Wine

Ghemme brings together a fortified village, churches with architectural and artistic history, Giardino Gianoli and a winemaking tradition. It is also part of a European cultural route and offers views along stage 19 of the Sentiero Novara. If you are looking for a hotel in Ghemme, these themes can help you decide what you want to focus on during your stay.

Castello-Ricetto and Architectural History

Castello-Ricetto di Ghemme is a fortified village covering a total area of 12,000 square metres, with a rectangular layout and a central main street. It offers a different historical perspective from Castello di Cavenago: this castle dates from the 16th century and stands on a hill overlooking Ghemme. The local descriptions thus place a fortified village and a prominent hilltop castle side by side.

The churches, too, take you through different architectural and artistic periods. Chiesa di San Rocco was built as a votive church after the community of Ghemme was severely affected by the plague in 1630–31. Chiesa Parrocchiale di Maria Assunta was built from 1666 and completed in the mid-18th century. Its Latin-cross layout is richly decorated with Baroque stucco and 18th-century frescoes. The church also houses a 15th-century crucifix in Cappella del Crocifisso.

Scurolo della Beata Panacea adds a later phase of construction to this picture: Alessandro Antonelli built it between 1864 and 1875. It houses frescoes by Francesco Toni and Paolo Emilio Morgari, as well as polychrome stained-glass windows by Pompeo Bertini dating from 1897. Oratorio di San Fabiano houses a depiction of the Crucifixion from the late 15th century; its frescoes are attributed to the painter Bartolonus. The architectural and artistic features mentioned here therefore span the 15th to the 19th century.

Garden, Cultural Route and Views

Giardino Gianoli offers a different focus from the churches and Castello-Ricetto. It is a typical example of a 19th-century Italian garden, with a greenhouse, a Neo-Gothic-style lookout tower and a marble fountain. The public park includes a covered stage for theatre and music events. The garden and stage thus represent two distinct aspects of the town: designed garden architecture and a structure for cultural events.

Since 2014, Ghemme has been an individual member of the Cluniac Sites in Europe Cultural Route. The Ghemme area is also the southern gateway to the UNESCO Global Geopark. Stage 19 of the Sentiero Novara offers specific views of the surrounding area, including Monte Rosa and the Sesia plain. The Cultural Route and the Geopark provide a regional context; the views are tied to a particular stage.

Ghemme Wine and Tastings

Ghemme wine is produced in Ghemme and Romagnano Sesia, in the province of Novara. At least 85 percent of the grapes used are Nebbiolo, Vespolina and Bonarda Novarese. This makes the wine’s origins and grape varieties a distinct topic for your trip, alongside the churches and historic buildings.

The tasting experiences described have different focuses. CasaFrancoli’s tasting package includes three wines from Torraccia del Piantavigna, one Luigi Francoli grappa and local products. Pietraforata holds guided tastings in its winery on the main street of Castello-Ricetto di Ghemme, featuring a selection of wines it produces itself. If you plan a tasting, check the date and availability in advance.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

When looking for a hotel, you can first decide what you want your trip to focus on: architectural history, from the fortified village to the churches; the garden; a wine tasting; or the views along stage 19. These are different reasons to stay in the area. Once you know which ones matter most to you, you can tailor your search for hotels in Ghemme to your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Casaleggio Novara, Fara Novarese, Armeno, Baraggia, Borgomanero, Bogogno, Lagna, Auzate

For the broader travel overview: Novara.