Varallo, Varallo

Varallo, commonly known as Varallo Sesia, is a comune and town of about 7,400 inhabitants in the province of Vercelli in the Piedmont region of Italy. It is situated in Valsesia, at 450m above sea level and some 66km north-northeast of Vercelli and 55km northwest of Novara.Once called Varade, it is divided in two boroughs by the Mastallone stream.In 1971 Varallo was awarded the Golden Medal for Military Valor for the deeds of its population against the German occupation in the late stages of World War II.GeographyThe valley of the Sesia is very narrow at this point as it nears its source. Varallo lies on the left bank where the Mastallone flows into the Sesia.The town is surrounded by the foothills of the Alps and is not far from the Monte Rosa, which is visible from the surrounding hills.Main sightsThe churches of San Gaudenzio, Santa Maria delle Grazie, and Santa Maria di Loreto, all contain works by Gaudenzio Ferrari, who was born in the neighboring Valduggia.Museums and galleries include the Pinacoteca Civica (the David and Goliath pictured is by Tanzio da Varallo who was born in the frazione Riale), the Museo Comola in the frazione Camasco, the Museo Scaglia and the Museo di Storia Naturale Calderini.