Ghemme

Ghemme (Ghem in Piedmontese) is an Italian town of 3,752 inhabitants in Novara district.
Since 1994 is part of the "City of Wine" and since 2002 of the "City of honey."
The country is located on the left bank of the Sesia river, near the border with Vercelli district and not far from the entrance of Sesia Valley.
Is about 25 km from Novara and 17 km from Borgomanero.
This village is situated at the base of one of the three upland that characterizes the territory: sunny slopes are widely exploited for the cultivation of the vine.

 

 

Places of Interest

• Church of Santa Maria Assunta, built from 1666. In 1863 was completed with the construction of the crypt dedicated to the Blessed Panacea, designed by Antonelli.

• Church of San Rocco, already documented in 1532 and expanded to its current size in the seventeenth century. Inside, there are four frescoes of the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries, salvaged from buildings being demolished.

The Castle-shelter, built between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries.

The Cavenago castle, a sixteenth century, dominates the hill planted with vines and the village. It comes in the form of a quadrilateral with corner towers, one of which in the seventeenth century has been transformed into a small chapel dedicated to St. Rose of Lima.

Shelter Medieval Ghemme, a real fortified village surrounded by defensive walls. It was built in the period of the struggle between Guelphs and Ghibellines.

 

 

 

Traditional Cooking

The typical products are specifically Ghemme DOCG wine (whose production dates back to Roman times), honey and bread.
Wine production excels with red Ghemme DOCG, produced from Nebbiolo and Vespolina grapes, one of 40 DOCG wines existing in Italy, but beyond that, there's a several production of other DOC wines of Novara Hills,
including also a variety of white wines.

Ghemme is synonymous of excellence in the honey production and has joined, together with 9 other Italian cities, the National Association Italian "Cities of Honey." The typical productions in Ghemme are the acacia honey, among the best and most pure of Italy, and the wildflowers.
For several years Aspromiele, the Beekeepers Association of Novara, Mielenatura and the City of Ghemme organize a competition to encourage the production of quality honey.


Festivals and Celebrations

Between the last week of April and the first of May, in the suggestive setting of the castle, takes place as the annual market of wine.
On the first Friday of May, in honor of the Blessed Panacea held a religious festival with very ancient tradition. Panacea (or Panasia), was born in Quarona and orphaned in early age, she had to suffer a lot of persecution by her stepmother, who came to kill her at the age of fifteen conficcandole the time to spin in the head.
"Legend has it that angels graze the flock of Panacea while the girl was praying. One evening sun the sheep returned to the barn and furious racing to find her stepmother and killed her in that cruel way. Miraculously, the bells of the church of St. John the Baptist began to play alone for the party, so all the inhabitants of Quarona were aware of wrongdoing. Only the presence of the Bishop loaded the body of the young girl on a wagon, the two mares that continued pulled up to Ghemme and miraculously stopped at the place where he had buried the mother of Panacea. The devotion to the figure of the shepherd virgin and martyr has continued over the centuries and still today the feast in his honor is celebrated with great participation of devotees Ghemme of Quarona, of all the Sesia Valley and neighboring countries. "

 

 

 

Curiosity

Ghemme is renowned for its wine production which represents the major source of income with several companies active in the sector, although the majority of the population do not work in agriculture.
The biggest and best-known industrial companies derive their activities from their own wine vocation of the territory:
§ Production of wine;
§ Vinegar and derivatives (Bridges);
§ Grappa (Francoli);


 

 

 

 

Ghemme

 

Ghemme

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Chiesa di San Rocco

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Castello di Ricetto

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Ricetto medioevale

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Cucina Tipica