The city of the artistic evolution: a weekend in Vercelli

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In one of the richest areas of canals and waterways of the Po Valley, on the banks of the river Sesia, surrounded by extensive grounds planted with rice, there is one of the most beautiful cities of Northern Italy. Vercelli Our days have been a succession of colors, the faces of characters that enliven ancient paintings, frescoes and contemporary works, long walks and refreshing for the soul, between the monuments of rare beauty.
Upon arriving, we settle in the elegant rooms of Hotel Cinzia structure that operates in Vercelli for four generations, then we start to explore the city. We are near the center, in Corso Magenta, so we combine the convenience of being able to leave the car in the hotel car park to the pleasure of reaching the most important monuments on foot. Moreover, we know: Vercelli is also a city of pilgrims, being one of the stops of the Via Francigena.
The town boasts several firsts: it is, for example, home of the oldest universities in the Piedmont, dating back to the thirteenth century. But the cultural riccezza Vercelli has even more ancient roots: Roman citizenship had complete since 49 BC, which meant the presence of roads, monuments, baths, in addition to the aqueduct and the amphitheater.
The square Vercelli is perhaps more characteristic of the medieval Piazza Cavour, with its ancient houses with porticos topped by curious Angel Tower. Our walk on art then the antiquity through the Middle Ages, goes into the sixteenth century with Gaudenzio Ferrari, before arriving in the modern age, thanks to the extraordinary collection of the Guggenheim exhibitions every year attract thousands of people to 'Ark of Vercelli. Moreover, in this city is the second most important art gallery in Piedmont, at the Museum Burgundy.
You could say that for the period Gaudenzio Ferrari Vercelli was one of the most important of his career. In fact, it was in Vercelli, who devoted himself more to painting than to sculpture, creating the magnificent frescoes in the Church of St. Christopher, considered by many scholars the culmination of the artistic expression of the Ferrari.
The religious history of Vercelli is remarkable, since the city's first bishop, Eusebius, who lived between 283 and 371, also known for its commitment in the fight against the spread of the Arian heresy. The square was named after the Bishop is the Church of St. Eusebius, or the Duomo of Vercelli. Another monument of extraordinary beauty is the Gothic Basilica of St. Andrew, built between 1219 and 1227.
But even in Vercelli, a former church like St. Mark's is an attraction not to be missed, not only for its beauty, but also for the presence within it of the famous Ark, an exhibition space opened in 2007 and since then the seat of prestigious exhibitions set up in collaboration with the Guggenheim Foundation. Until June 5, 2011 will open a new exhibition devoted to Italian art, with works by artists such as Amedeo Modigliani, Alberto Burri and Lucio Fontana.
After a day of art, our dinner is a real contemporary experience of the author, thanks to the creativity and imagination of the chef Christian and Manuel Costardi. At the Restaurant-Hotel Cinzia Risotteria seeing a real evolution with the quality and the desire to bring new ideas in the tradition, let us start the way to bring the menu. In fact, since we read the paper thrown into a fantasy world, where the dishes re-interpret the emotions of modern man, tied to their roots, but also a future traveler to explore. Our group chose three different types of menus, respectively called "Emotion", "Territory" and "Passion." The emotion begins with the red shrimp of Mazara del Vallo in oil-cooking and flavors of autumn and the king crab, brunoise vegetables and small crustaceans. It continues with the flavors of the Vercelli Carnaroli near the sea and the sea bass with foie gras darna steamed apple and raisin sauce. Can also enjoy a pre-dessert "Among the fields, orchards and aromas." The menu inspired by the land we enjoy among other things, the cube-speaking low temperature, the colors and flavors of the countryside, the panissa to Vercelli and cheek in slow cooking, and its small. The couple of our friends who chooses the menu "Passion", the delicious must live with dishes like lobster and sweetbreads with Marsala sauce and almond, rice Carnaroli rabbit and duck foie gras and cream cheese from Piedmont and partridge marinated in extra virgin olive oil, sauce flavored Barbera d'Asti Superiore. We end our meal with desserts such as "paddy in winter", the "thousand follies chocolate" and "Choco Box, the evolution of chocolate": true art in sweetness.

Frances Bertha

FOR INFORMATION:
www.comune.Vercelli.it
www.guggenheimvercelli.it
www.hotel-cinzia.com
Hotel Cinzia
Christian and Manuel Restaurant - Risotteria
Corso Magenta, June 4, 1859, 71 Vercelli
0161/253585