Vercelli

Vercelli, situated in the heart of the Po Valley plain, is a fundamental stop on the Francigena Way and is known as "Europe's rice capital". The surrounding landscape, with its vast rice fields that flood in spring, is unique and offers a picture of great beauty. For pilgrims, Vercelli is an important center for services and an artistic treasure. Its main monument is the magnificent Basilica of Sant'Andrea, one of Italy's first examples of Gothic architecture, with Romanesque influences and a facade flanked by two towers. The Piazza Cavour, with its arcades, is the heart of the city's life. Vercelli offers pilgrims an experience that combines a singular agricultural landscape, a monumental heritage of first order, and a cuisine based on rice, such as famous "risotto". It is a flat stage, ideal for rest, which allows the pilgrim to immerse themselves in the culture of the Padan plain before continuing their journey towards Rome.