Departure: Vercelli

Arrival: Vercelli

Distance: 71 km

Time: 5 h 30 min

Recommended period: spring and autumn

Rating: medium difficulty

Itinerary: From Vercelli railway station, take the cycle path of Viale Garibaldi, Via Paggi and Via Trino to exit the city in the direction of Crescentino, crossing the town of Casalrosso. Continue along Strada delle Grange (literally granaries) that takes its name from the ancient housing units that arose on the uncultivated territories covered by woods on which Cistercian monks carried out reclamation work to turn them into production areas. The ‘Grange’ rise from the water like small islands and you reach one of the most fascinating Grange as soon as you have passed the crossroads for Darola: the Principality of Lucedio and the Abbey of Santa Maria built in 1123. The Principality deserves an honourable mention, considering that in the first half of the 15th century it was precisely the Cistercians of Lucedio who were the first to introduce rice cultivation in Italy. After the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Vineyards and its sinister atmosphere, continue for Montarolo touching il Bosco delle Sorti della Partecipanza of Trino, a rare example of lowland wood, which gives us an unprecedented image of the Po Valley plains of yesteryear. Having reached Montarolo, you can shorten the route by 25 km continuing in the direction of Trino, or continue for Crescentino, by re-joining the Strada delle Grange and making a detour following the directions for San Genuario and the Nature Reserve of the homonymous marshland. Once you have crossed the town, you reach the hamlet of Monticelli, where you follow the directions for Trino. Continue, following the directions for Asigliano V.se. After crossing the town of Asigliano, continue in the direction of Vercelli and return to the starting point.