Novara: San Gaudenzio
Tucked into the western Po Plain, Novara is a city whose character is shaped by the flat, irrigated farmland around its historic centre. Its defining landmark is the Basilica of San Gaudenzio, dedicated to the city’s patron saint and crowned by the 121-metre cupola designed by Alessandro Antonelli. Completed in the 19th century, the dome rises above a compact centre of tiled roofs and arcaded streets. Novara lies between Milan and Turin and has long served as a market centre for the rice-growing lands of eastern Piedmont. Its religious traditions endure in the January Festa di San Gaudenzio.
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Among the cities of Piedmont, Novara stands out for the soaring cupola of the Basilica of San Gaudenzio, designed by Alessandro Antonelli and long a defining mark on the Po Plain skyline. The city lies between Turin and Milan in the rice-growing lowlands of the Po Valley, an area shaped by centuries of agriculture and irrigation channels. At its centre, the Broletto preserves a group of medieval civic buildings around a courtyard, while the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta reflects Novara’s role as an episcopal seat. The 1849 Battle of Novara, fought nearby during Italy’s Risorgimento, ended in a decisive Austrian victory over the Kingdom of Sardinia. Continue through nearby webcams to explore different parts of Novara and Piedmont.
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Piedmont occupies Italy’s northwestern corner, between the Alps, the Apennines and the Po Valley. The Po, Italy’s longest river, begins in the Cottian Alps and flows east across the region’s plains, while vine-covered hills define the Langhe, Roero and Monferrato areas. Turin, Piedmont’s principal city, was the first capital of unified Italy from 1861 to 1865 and remains closely associated with the House of Savoy, grand boulevards and chocolate-making. Beyond the city, the region’s identity ranges from Alpine valleys to rice fields around Vercelli and renowned wine country. Move on to other webcams in the region to compare landscapes and settings around Piedmont.
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Among the countries of southern Europe, Italy stands out for its Mediterranean coastline and cities marked by the legacy of ancient Rome. The Alps form its northern frontier, while the Apennines run down the peninsula and the Po crosses the broad plain of the north. Rome’s Colosseum and Roman Forum recall the ancient empire; Florence is closely associated with the Renaissance, and Venice is built across a lagoon on the Adriatic. Food changes markedly between regions, from olive-oil cooking in the south to rice dishes in the Po Valley. Sicily and Sardinia add distinct island identities to a country whose regions retain strong local character. Explore nearby webcam locations that provide complementary perspectives on Italy’s coasts, cities and mountains.
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