Vercelli: Discover Churches, Art and History

Churches, art collections and archaeological finds give Vercelli a distinctive cultural character. A visit can take you from medieval architecture to Old English manuscripts and Roman artefacts. Seasonal views of the rice fields and the city’s traditional sweets add to the experience. When looking for a hotel in Vercelli, you can plan your trip around whether you mainly want to explore museums and religious buildings or also make time for the landscape and local cuisine.

Churches from Different Periods

Visits to the Cathedral of Sant'Eusebio are free and accessible; check the access details again before your visit. As services are held there, please be considerate of religious ceremonies during your visit. The Romanesque bell tower is the only surviving part of the medieval structure dating from the 12th century. The history of the patron saint also includes the original Basilica of Sant'Eusebio, built in the 4th century on the site of his tomb.

The Basilica di Sant'Andrea offers a different architectural style, combining the Romanesque tradition with emerging Gothic forms. The Church of San Cristoforo is also free to enter; its step-free access is suitable for people with disabilities. Here, too, check the access details again before your visit. This allows you to take different architectural styles and access arrangements into account as you explore, rather than viewing every church in the same way.

Museums with Different Areas of Focus

The MAC Museo Archeologico Civico “L. Bruzza” houses more than 600 artefacts from stratigraphic archaeological investigations carried out in Vercelli over the past 30 years. At the start of the tour, visitors are greeted by an animated digital hologram of the statue of Apollo, discovered in Vercelli in the 16th century. Installation details may change. The Museo Camillo Leone complements this archaeological perspective with Roman finds from the Vercelli area, including a famous bilingual Latin-Gaulish stele.

The same museum houses an old library with around 20,000 volumes. Its holdings include illuminated parchment manuscripts, sixteenth-century books and incunabula. Those interested in the history of books and writing will find a different perspective here than in the archaeological department. The Museo del Tesoro del Duomo, meanwhile, houses one of the richest surviving collections of sacred objects and is located in the archbishop's palace. On display are goldsmiths’ work dating from the 7th to the 17th century, as well as an anastatic copy of the Vercelli Book: the famous Old English codex dates from the end of the 10th century.

The Museo Francesco Borgogna displays 800 works from the 15th to the 20th century across three floors. The altarpieces and frescoes of the Piedmontese Renaissance are especially interesting. The number of floors and the wide span of periods give the collection a different focus from the more archaeological or sacred holdings of the other museums.

Architecture, Landscape and Local Experiences

ARCA also brings together architectural heritage and cultural activity. Visitors can see the medieval vaults of San Marco and the uncovered 15th-century frescoes. The venue is also used for cultural events and exhibitions; the programme may change.

Vercelli is surrounded by rice fields. During the flooding in April and May, you can cycle alongside them; conditions vary from year to year. This seasonal outing is quite different from visits to churches and museums and can be included as a separate activity when planning your trip. At a historic café in Piazza Cavour, you can try Bicciolani and Tartufata, traditional sweets from the city. Check availability locally.

The Synagogue of Vercelli is regularly open to the public at specified times. Ask the secretariat about visiting hours before planning your visit. Vercelli is on the Milan–Turin railway line, and daily bus services connect the city with Biella, Varallo and Casale Monferrato. As timetables are subject to change, check the connections for your travel date. This way, you can plan your cultural activities, seasonal outings and travel to suit your stay.

Discover more destinations: Vocca, Borgosesia, Cellio, Ferrera, Valduggia, Albano Vercellese, San Genuario, Rimasco, Cigliano, Desana, Rimella, Crescentino, Trino, Serravalle Sesia, Balmuccia, Fobello, Campertogno, Alagna Valsesia, Riva Valdobbia, Breia, Carisio, Piode, Vercelli, Livorno Ferraris, Gattinara, Varallo, Bianzè, Rima, Motta Dè Conti, Santhià, Pila, Scopello.

For the broader travel overview: Piedmont.