Open Doors — Medieval Churches and Oratories between Sesia and Agogna

A journey into the medieval heart of the Novara region

Open Doors — Medieval Churches and Oratories between Sesia and Agogna is an inter-municipal cultural initiative that, for one day, opens some of the most precious sacred buildings in the Novara area to the public for free—sites that are normally closed or accessible only on special occasions. The event involves seven municipalities located between the Sesia and Agogna rivers: Briona, Carpignano Sesia, Casalvolone, Fara Novarese, Momo, Sillavengo, and Vicolungo.

Fara Novarese and the Oratory of Saints Peter and Paul

In the municipality of Fara Novarese, in the Province of Novara, the absolute highlight is the Oratory of Saints Peter and Paul, a single-nave Romanesque church with an apse, set within the evocative surroundings of the local cemetery. Documented as early as 1157 but likely founded in the second half of the 11th century, the building served as the community's parish church until the 14th century.

The interior houses an exceptional cycle of 15th-century frescoes. In the apse vault, the Christ Pantocrator stands out, enclosed in a mandorla and surrounded by the symbols of the four Evangelists, with the Apostles depicted in the lower register. Particularly famous is the cycle of the months, a series of panels separated by small trees that illustrate activities related to rural life, providing a vivid testimony of daily medieval life between the Sesia and Agogna rivers.

Lombard Romanesque between the two rivers

The churches and oratories open during the day represent "speaking stones" of the local Romanesque heritage: from the Pieve of San Pietro in Casalvolone to the Church of San Pietro in Carpignano Sesia, and from the Oratory of the Most Holy Trinity in Momo to the Oratory of San Martino in Vicolungo. Despite their architectural simplicity, these buildings preserve frescoes and details of great value, capable of recounting centuries of religious and community history in the Piedmontese territory.

Visits, guides, and insights

During the event, the sites can be visited for free, generally from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with specific hours for each location. In some cases, volunteers and guides are present to accompany visitors as they discover the frescoes and the history of the buildings. The day traditionally concludes with a cultural session dedicated to the relationship between churches, communities, and castles in the medieval Novara region.

A heritage to be rediscovered

Promoted under the patronage of the Province of Novara and supported by the ATL Terre dell'Alto Piemonte, in collaboration with municipalities, parishes, Pro Loco associations, and volunteers, Open Doors was born from the desire to enhance a heritage that deeply defines the identity of these lands. For Fara Novarese and the entire Novara region, it is a precious opportunity to reconnect residents and visitors with an artistic legacy that is often little known.