Novara is a town of 103,238 inhabitants in the province of Novara, in Piedmont, Italy. It is the capital of its province.
The municipality covers 102.99 km², with a density of 1,002 inhabitants per km².
The nearest airport is Milan Malpensa (MXP), about 22 km away as the crow flies. Read our guide to the airport.
Things to see in Novara
The dome above the rice fields
Novara lies between the Ticino and Sesia rivers, in a plain of rice paddies that turn into mirrors in spring. Its skyline is dominated by an extraordinary dome, visible for kilometres.
What to see
The Cupola of San Gaudenzio, by Alessandro Antonelli, rises 121 metres and is one of the tallest masonry domes in the world. The Duomo, rebuilt by Antonelli in neoclassical style, faces the early Christian baptistery, and the Broletto courtyard gathers medieval civic buildings and the civic gallery. The Visconti-Sforza castle, restored, hosts exhibitions, and the arcaded Corso Cavour is the main shopping street.
Food
Paniscia, a rich risotto with beans and salami, Gorgonzola, mostly made in this province, and the crisp biscotti di Novara.
Around Novara
The rice paddies and abbeys of the plain, Lake Orta with Orta San Giulio, Lake Maggiore with Stresa, Vigevano and its Renaissance square, and Milan 35 minutes by train. Milan Malpensa airport is only 30 minutes away.
Novara on the map
Nearby towns
Where to stay in and around Novara
Tours and activities nearby
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