- A Grand Festival for the People – Our first stop will take us to Santhià, home to Piedmont’s oldest historical carnival, which has been bringing the city to life for over seven centuries with events, merriment, and celebrations.
Wandering through the quiet narrow streets of the city center, we’ll arrive at the Carvè Museum, which, through masks, collections, statues, and miniature floats, traces the history of this great festival of art and the people. - Rice: Then and Now – Leaving Santhià behind, we’ll head to Casalbeltrame, where we’ll visit the Cavalchini Farm, an example of the strong bond between tradition and modernity that animates these lands.
The estate combines the roots of a centuries-old history, dating back to the late 17th century, with the ability to constantly innovate irrigation and cultivation methods and the foresight to embrace new trends in the food and agribusiness markets. - A Tasting Break – Along the way, we’ll stop in the quaint village of Asigliano, where we can immerse ourselves in the enchanting atmosphere of its rural park, sample a local dish, and experience the excitement and adrenaline of the traditional Corsa dei Buoi by visiting the museum dedicated to it.
- Walls That Tell Stories – To wrap up, we’ll head to Rive to take part in DeRive – Public Art in Rural Spaces, the cultural initiative that in recent years has transformed this small town into a veritable open-air museum, integrating street art into the agricultural landscape of the rice paddies.
The facades of the houses feature dozens of murals created by national and international artists, addressing themes related to the environment, rural culture, and the local area.
During our visit, the festival will be in full swing, so in addition to admiring the paintings from past editions, we’ll be able to watch new works being created live and interact with the artists.
At the end of the tour, the day will conclude with free time to continue exploring the city center on your own, which is coming alive with Risò—the International Rice Festival—its Village, its pavilions, and its events.
Transportation: GT buses from Vercelli, Turin, and Milan
Time and meeting point:
- Vercelli: 10:00 a.m. – in front of the train station
- Turin: 8:30 a.m. – Corso Bolzano
- Milan: 8:30 a.m. – Lampugnano Bus Terminal (MM1 Red Line), Via G. Natta
Scheduled return: For Turin and Milan, departure from Vercelli at 7:00 p.m.
Includes:
- GT bus
- Licensed guide
- Rice tasting
- Admission fees