Nibbiola
Discover Nibbiola: a pleasant village in the heart of the Piedmont countryside
Nibbiola is a small Piedmontese municipality located about 10 kilometers south of Novara, in the homonymous province. With its 823 inhabitants, Nibbiola is a peaceful and welcoming place boasting a millennia-old history and a respectable cultural heritage. In the following paragraphs, I will tell you about some of the most interesting places to visit in this corner of Piedmont.
Physical geography
The territory of Nibbiola is not completely flat but characterized by small hilly reliefs. The village stands on the Novara-Vespolate Terrace, of fluvio-glacial origin, elevated by about ten meters compared to the surrounding territory. Here four streams flow: Ri, Sparso, Neralo and Arbogna.
History
The first time Nibbiola is mentioned is in March 902 on a map from the Cathedral archive of Novara. Archaeological remains, such as an Amphora, a Coin and a Glass Balsam, in the Montarsello site, indicate the presence of a small cemetery in Roman times.
Local name
The name of the village in Lombard language - dialect spoken in almost the entire province of Novara - is Nibiola, while in Piedmontese it is always Nibiola.
Symbols
The coat of arms of the municipality of Nibbiola was granted by decree of the President of the Republic on February 2, 1950.
Monuments and places of interest
Castle
The Castle of Nibbiola is one of the most interesting monuments in the village. It was built in 1198 by the then Consul of the Graciano of San Vittore and subsequently passed to the families of Novara and Milan, such as the Sforza, the della Porta, the Tornielli and the Ala Ponzone. In the fifteenth century, the fortifications were updated to the times.
Built entirely in exposed brick, the castle has two angular towers and a central tower to defend the entrance, with a drawbridge still functioning to cross the moat that surrounded the entire structure.
Inside, the rooms overlook a portico built in the eighteenth century. From the courtyard, you can access the "Giardinone," a beautiful garden with a large wall that still preserves one of the few functioning drawbridges.
Religious architectures
The church of San Vittore was the first parish church in the village and dated back to the year 1000, but was subsequently demolished to make way for modern roads. However, at the beginning of the twentieth century, an oratory was built in memory of the ancient church.
The church of Santa Maria, on the other hand, was built in the sixteenth century outside the village, along with the cemetery, to replace the old parish church.
Conclusions
Nibbiola is a small village but quite rich in tourist attractions. Among the things to see, the Castle is certainly one of the most interesting places to visit, with its still-functioning drawbridges and the beautiful Giardinone. The churches of San Vittore and Santa Maria are two very suggestive buildings and represent the millennia-old testimony of the history of the village. If you want a peaceful place to take a break from the chaos of the city, Nibbiola is just what you need.
