Novara
A rice-country capital with an Antonelli dome and Piedmont's agricultural heartland at its feet.
About Novara
Novara is the quiet capital of Piedmont's eastern plain, where endless rice paddies stretch to the horizon—this is Italy's rice bowl, producing the Carnaroli and Arborio varieties that make the country's risotto famous. The city itself is more interesting than its reputation suggests: the cathedral has a stunning neoclassical interior by Alessandro Antonelli (who also designed Turin's Mole), the medieval Broletto courtyard hosts exhibitions, and the compact old town is pleasant for strolling. Novara is also an excellent base for exploring the Piedmontese side of Lake Maggiore and the Valsesia, a beautiful alpine valley leading to Monte Rosa.
Best Time to Visit
April to October. Spring is magical when the rice paddies flood, creating mirror-like landscapes. Summer is warm but the lakes and mountains provide escape. Autumn brings harvest festivals.
Local Tips
- See the flooded rice paddies.
In April-May, the paddies flood and create a surreal, mirror-like landscape stretching to the horizon. A local can drive you through the best routes and arrange a risotto lunch at a cascina (farmstead).
- Visit a risotto rice farm.
Novara's Carnaroli rice is prized by chefs worldwide. A local can arrange a tour of a working rice farm where you learn the cultivation process and taste risotto made with rice harvested from the surrounding fields.
- Explore the Valsesia.
This beautiful valley north of Novara leads to the Walser villages beneath Monte Rosa. A local knows the best hikes, the wooden houses of the German-speaking Walser communities, and the mountain rifugi for lunch.