Vicolungo: Historic Buildings and Local History

Vicolungo combines a village surrounded by rice fields with historic buildings. In the town center, Castello di Vicolungo and Parrocchiale di San Giorgio stand side by side in the piazza. Other historical connections range from the fortification and the medieval complex I Palazzi to church art and a former settlement south of the village.

Castello, Rocchetta and I Palazzi

The piazza is a useful starting point for getting your bearings among the buildings in the town center: the Castello is there, with the Parrocchiale right next to it. In the fortification, the Rocchetta is the oldest part; it dates from the 15th century. The Castello retains pointed-arch windows and imposing machicolations. The Rocchetta’s date and the surviving architectural features complement one another, but answer different questions: one dates a part of the complex, while the others describe the castle’s architectural details.

I Palazzi is a separate fortified complex. It dates from the Middle Ages and was built on the edge of the ancient Biandrina road. For the Rocchetta, the focus is on the 15th century; for I Palazzi, on its medieval origins and location at the edge of the Via Biandrina. Here you encounter different historical periods and architectural contexts, without conflating the two complexes.

Church Art and Architectural History

Parrocchiale di San Giorgio stands in the piazza next to the castle. Inside is a panel depicting the Virgin and the Saints. The work is attributed to Bernardino Lanino and was created around 1580. This adds a specific connection to art history to the spatial relationship between the church and the Castello. The approximate date and attribution give the work its own place in time.

The history of Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie also encompasses its founding date and construction history. Enrico Gritta, the feudal lord of Vicolungo, founded the church in 1591. The church’s main structure dates from the 15th century: it has a single nave, a vaulted ceiling and a semicircular apse. The building also includes a second section from another period. The founding year and the date of the main structure describe different aspects. They can be considered side by side without assigning a single date to the entire building. For architecture enthusiasts, the building’s form and these distinct historical periods offer two specific points of interest.

South of the Village and Among the Rice Fields

Another point of interest lies south of Vicolungo: the Oratorio di San Martino is near the cemetery. The settlement of San Martino di Zuxiana once stood there, by the cemetery. The oratory is thus also connected to the history of the former settlement. Its location differs from the buildings in the piazza and adds a southern point of reference to your view of Vicolungo.

Vicolungo is considered a small village surrounded by rice fields. This rural landscape adds another dimension to the destination’s architectural history. When exploring Vicolungo, you can therefore focus on different aspects: the fortifications, the churches and their art, or the village’s connection with the rice fields. Each of the historic buildings offers its own historical periods and spatial contexts.

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For the main travel overview: Novara.