CascinarMangiando

A bike ride through the farmsteads of the Lower Novara area

CascinarMangiando is a gourmet cycling excursion held in Casalino, a small town in the province of Novara, in the heart of the Piedmontese countryside. Every year, on May 1st, the event offers a cycling trip of about fifteen kilometers along country roads, with scheduled stops at the area's historic farmsteads where participants can taste local gastronomic specialties.

The farmsteads, the soul of the territory

The farmsteads (cascine) are the main hubs of the agricultural landscape and fundamental elements of the identity of this corner of Piedmont. Emerging from the 10th century and spreading widely around the 19th century throughout the Po Valley, these large rural courtyards have defined peasant life for centuries. The town of Casalino alone counts twenty-seven of them, many of which are still active: visiting them by bike means traversing the agricultural history of the Piedmont Region and the Lower Novara area, amidst rice paddies, vine rows, and rural architecture.

How the day unfolds

Meeting and registration take place in the morning at the Casalino Tourist Office on Via Prealba, from where the caravan of cyclists departs. Along the route, stops at the farmsteads turn the ride into a true culinary itinerary: from a mid-morning breakfast to traditional Novara dishes, every stop is an opportunity to learn about the products, flavors, and people of the area. The day concludes in the early afternoon with a return to the starting point.

An event for the whole family

The leisurely pace and predominantly flat route make CascinarMangiando suitable for everyone, from families with children to slow-cycling enthusiasts. It is a simple and authentic way to spend the May 1st holiday in the open air, rediscovering the conviviality and food traditions of the Novara countryside in the heart of rural Piedmont.