FAI Spring Days in Romagnano Sesia - Villa Caccia

Villa Caccia, an Antonellian masterpiece in the heart of Valsesia

The FAI Spring Days are the flagship event of the National Trust of Italy (Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano): every year, on a weekend in March, hundreds of sites that are usually closed or little-known open their doors to the public across Italy. In Romagnano Sesia, in the Novara area (Province of Novara, Piedmont), the FAI Novara Delegation has chosen a site of great charm for the 34th edition: Villa Caccia, an elegant residence that overlooks the town and the lower Valsesia from the heights of Monte Cucco.

A project by Alessandro Antonelli

Built between 1842 and 1848 as the summer residence of the Counts Caccia of Romentino, Villa Caccia is the work of the architect Alessandro Antonelli, the same genius behind the famous Mole Antonelliana in Turin. The villa is a refined example of Antonellian neoclassicism and eclecticism: a rigorous floor plan, clean volumes, and an imposing colonnade facing the centuries-old park, rich in diverse tree species. Now owned by the Municipality, it is one of the symbolic landmarks of the local Antonellian heritage trail.

The Ethnographic Museum of Lower Valsesia

The villa houses the Ethnographic Museum of Lower Valsesia (MEV), founded in 1973 at the initiative of Professor Maria Adriana Prolo, who also created the Cinema Museum in Turin. The rooms recount the material culture, traditions, and trades of Romagnano and the Novara hills: from peasant civilization to viticulture, and from ancient crafts to reconstructions of historical domestic and social environments.

Tours and Apprentice Cicerones

The heart of the FAI experience lies in the guided tours entrusted to young "Apprentice Cicerones": at Villa Caccia, visitors are accompanied by students from the Felice Casorati Artistic, Musical and Choreutic High School of Romagnano Sesia, who illustrate the architecture, history, and collections with the fresh perspective of the new generation. It is a practical way to bring young people closer to heritage conservation.

A festive weekend for the whole town

The openings are part of two lively days: in addition to visiting the villa, the center of Romagnano hosts a Slow Food market, entertainment and music with the local radio station, family shows, and activities for children. The FAI Spring Days in Romagnano Sesia are the perfect opportunity to discover a jewel of Piedmont and support the activities of the National Trust of Italy with a small donation.