Novara

Novara is Piedmont's second city after Turin, sitting on the flat plain between Milan and Turin at a crossroads that has shaped its history for two thousand years. Founded by the ancient Ligures and later developed as a Roman settlement, Novara was fought over repeatedly through the centuries, from a sacking by Attila the Hun in 452 to a decisive 1849 battle in the First Italian War of Independence that still gives its name to a city square. Today it's a calm, prosperous provincial capital, less visited than its famous neighbors, with an elegant arcaded centre, a skyline dominated by one of Italy's most improbable domes, and easy rail access that makes it a practical, quieter alternative to basing a trip in Milan.

Novara rewards a short, unhurried visit: a day is enough to take in the historic centre's main sights and a good regional meal, and its location on the Turin-Milan high-speed line means it works equally well as a standalone stop or as a base for the lakes and vineyards of the surrounding province.

• Piedmont's second-largest city, with a population of around 103,000
• Home to the Basilica of San Gaudenzio, whose dome, designed by architect Alessandro Antonelli, rises about 121 metres and dominates the skyline for miles around
• Sits at the heart of Italy's main rice-growing region, and is closely associated with risotto and the local dish paniscia
• Connected to both Milan and Turin by direct high-speed trains in well under an hour

Novara sits on the Po Valley plain, which means a more continental climate than Italy's coastal cities: hot, sometimes humid summers and cold, foggy winters, both intensified by the surrounding rice paddies and the flat, enclosed geography of the plain.

Summer (June to August)

Hot and often humid, with average highs commonly in the high 20s to around 30°C (mid-80s°F) in July and August. The heat and humidity, amplified by the flooded rice fields around the city in growing season, can be intense at midday, though evenings on the piazzas are pleasant.

Spring and Autumn (April-May, September-October)

Generally considered the best time to visit, with mild, comfortable temperatures, greener countryside, and the rice fields at their most photogenic when flooded in spring or golden at harvest in early autumn.

Winter (November to March)

Cold and often grey, with average highs typically in the single digits Celsius (40s°F) and a real chance of thick valley fog, a defining feature of Po Valley winters. November is usually the wettest month of the year.

Novara's position directly on the Turin-Milan high-speed rail corridor makes it one of the easiest Piedmont cities to reach without a car.

By Train

Novara railway station, a major stop on the Turin-Milan line, has frequent direct trains to both cities: journeys to Milano Centrale typically take as little as 35-40 minutes, and to Turin Porta Susa around 30-35 minutes on the fastest services, with trains running roughly every 30-60 minutes throughout the day. Regional trains also connect Novara with Arona and Lake Maggiore, Vercelli, Alessandria, Biella, and the Valsesia valley toward Varallo.

By Air

Milan Malpensa Airport is the nearest major international airport, roughly 30-40 minutes away; a change of train is usually required, with total journey times of around an hour depending on the connection, and a direct bus service is also available. Turin's Caselle Airport and Milan's Linate and Bergamo airports are all reachable within about 60-90 minutes by a combination of train, bus, or car.

By Car

Novara sits on the A4 (Turin-Milan) and A26 motorways, making it a straightforward stop for anyone driving between the two cities or heading north toward Lake Maggiore and Switzerland.

Entry Requirements

Italy is part of the EU and the Schengen Area. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens can enter with a valid passport or national ID card. Many other nationalities, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, can enter visa-free for up to 90 days within a 180-day period; other nationalities need a Schengen short-stay visa arranged in advance. Rules change periodically, so check current guidance for your nationality before travelling.

Novara's historic centre is compact, largely pedestrianised, and easily covered on foot, with most major sights within a 15-20 minute walk of the train station.

Walking

The arcaded streets around Piazza Martiri della Libertà, the Broletto, and the Duomo are close together, and walking is genuinely the most practical way to see the centre.

Local Buses

An urban bus network covers the city and outlying districts for anyone staying further from the centre or heading to the station with luggage, though frequency on some routes is limited compared to larger Italian cities.

Cycling

The flat terrain of the Po Valley makes cycling a comfortable option, and it's a good way to reach nearby villages and the rice-growing countryside outside the city.

Novara's compact centre holds an unusual concentration of architecture for a city its size, most of it shaped by the 19th-century architect Alessandro Antonelli.

Historic Landmarks

• Basilica of San Gaudenzio - a Baroque-era church topped by Antonelli's soaring dome, one of the tallest brick domes in the world; the climb up offers sweeping views over the city and, on a clear day, the Alps
• Novara Cathedral (Duomo) - a neoclassical rebuild by Antonelli standing on the site of an ancient temple to Jupiter, with an early Christian baptistery among the oldest in Piedmont and interior Byzantine-style mosaics
• The Broletto - a medieval courtyard complex of connected palaces at the heart of the old town, now home to the city hall and several museums
• Castello Visconteo-Sforzesco - a partially restored medieval and Renaissance fortress, now used for exhibitions and cultural events, set within a public park

Museums

• Civic Museum and the Gallery of Modern Art - housed within the Broletto complex, covering the city's history and a collection of 19th- and 20th-century Italian art
• Museo di Storia Naturale Faraggiana Ferrandi - a well-regarded natural history museum, also part of the Broletto complex

Piazzas and Streets

• Piazza Martiri della Libertà - Novara's grand main square, lined with arcades and cafes
• Piazza Cesare Battisti (Piazza delle Erbe) - the city's historic vegetable-market square and geographic centre, marked by a small triangular stone set into the pavement

Novara sits at the heart of Italy's rice country, and its cuisine reflects that: this is risotto territory, home to prized Carnaroli rice and a rich regional food tradition built around it.

The dish to try is paniscia, a hearty Novarese specialty related to risotto but built with borlotti beans, cured pork, cabbage, and red wine alongside the rice, traditionally cooked in a copper pot and considered a symbol of local identity. Risotto itself appears in countless local variations, notably paired with gorgonzola, since the Novara area is one of the main producers of this DOP blue cheese. Cured meats like salame d'la duja (preserved in fat) and the liver-based fidighina are other local specialties, and Novara's biscottini, small traditional biscuits, are a well-known local sweet.

The hills just north and west of the city, part of the Alto Piemonte wine region, produce serious Nebbiolo-based reds with their own denominations, including Gattinara, Ghemme, and Fara; a glass of one of these alongside a plate of paniscia is a quintessential Novarese meal. The main concentration of restaurants and traditional osterie is in the historic centre, especially near the Broletto and the basilica.

Novara's compact size means most visitors stay within a small area, but a few districts are worth distinguishing.

Historic Centre

The arcaded old town within the former city walls, holding the Duomo, the Broletto, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, and most of the restaurants and shops. This is where almost all sightseeing happens and the natural place to be based.

Station Area

The streets around Novara railway station, a short walk from the historic centre, with a practical mix of hotels and everyday services, convenient for anyone arriving by train or planning day trips.

Sant'Agabio and Outer Districts

Residential neighbourhoods outside the old town, of limited interest to short-term visitors but useful to know if staying with locals or in longer-term accommodation.

The historic centre is the best base for most visitors, putting the Duomo, the Broletto, and Piazza Martiri della Libertà within easy walking distance, along with the bulk of the city's restaurants. Staying near the train station is a practical alternative, especially for a short stay or if day trips to Milan, Turin, or Lake Orta are the priority, since it cuts a few minutes off the walk with luggage while still being close to the centre.

Novara has a modest hotel scene compared to Milan or Turin, so options are limited but generally good value; travelers focused mainly on the lakes sometimes prefer to base themselves in Orta San Giulio or Stresa instead and treat Novara as a day trip in the other direction.

Novara's location and rail connections make it a convenient base for exploring both the Piedmont lakes and the surrounding rice country.

Lake Orta and Orta San Giulio

One of Italy's smaller and more romantic lakes, with the picturesque lakeside village of Orta San Giulio and the tiny Isola San Giulio just offshore, reachable by boat. It's roughly an hour from Novara by train and bus or car, and a popular full-day trip.

Lake Maggiore, Stresa, and the Borromean Islands

A longer but rewarding day trip, taking in the lakeside town of Stresa and boat rides to the ornate gardens of Isola Bella and the fishing village atmosphere of Isola dei Pescatori. Regional trains connect Novara with Arona on the lake's southern shore, with onward travel by boat or bus.

Vercelli and the Rice Fields

A short train ride away, Vercelli is the historic capital of Italy's rice-growing region, surrounded by the flooded paddies that supply much of the country's risotto rice; spring, when the fields are mirror-flat with water, is an especially striking time to visit.

Milan

With trains taking as little as 35 minutes, Milan is easily done as a day trip from Novara for the Duomo, shopping, and museums, while returning to a quieter, cheaper base for the night.

Turin

Similarly close by high-speed train, around 30-35 minutes, making Piedmont's capital an easy day trip for its royal palaces, museums, and cafe culture.

Novara is a generally safe, low-key city, and most visitors experience nothing beyond the ordinary precautions of any Italian destination.

• Keep an eye on bags and pockets in crowded spots like the train station and around the main piazzas, where petty theft is the most common issue
• As in the rest of Italy, be cautious of pickpocketing on regional trains and buses, particularly on routes to and from Milan
• The city is comfortable to walk in during the day; standard urban caution applies at night, as it would in any similarly sized city
• The emergency number in Italy is 112

Novara is noticeably cheaper than Milan or Turin for both accommodation and dining, making it a good-value base for exploring the wider region.

Accommodation

Budget hotels and B&Bs typically run from around €50-80 per night, with mid-range hotels closer to €90-130, and prices generally staying well below equivalent options in Milan.

Food and Drink

A casual lunch or pizza runs roughly €10-18, while a full sit-down dinner with wine at a traditional osteria is typically €25-45 per person. A coffee at the bar, in the Italian style, costs only around €1-1.50.

Transport

Local city buses cost a few euros per ride, and regional trains to Milan, Turin, or the lakes are inexpensive given the short distances, typically in the €5-15 range depending on the route and train type.

Novara follows the everyday etiquette common across northern Italy, with a slightly more understated, less rushed feel than nearby Milan.

• Coffee culture has its own rules: espresso is typically drunk standing at the bar, and cappuccino is considered a morning-only drink by most Italians
• Dress in the historic centre and at restaurants tends to be neat and put-together rather than overly casual, especially in the evening
• Meal times run later than in many countries, with dinner typically starting from 7:30-8pm onward
• A cover charge (coperto) is common at restaurants and is separate from a tip; tipping itself is modest, with rounding up or a small addition for good service being typical rather than expected
• Piedmontese pride in local food and wine runs deep; asking about a dish's origin or a wine's denomination is generally welcomed rather than seen as an imposition