Holiday apartment in Breia – Church, art and woodland landscape

Parish church, paintings and bell tower

A particular point of interest is the parish church of San Giovanni Battista in Breia. It was built on the site of an older chapel dating from the 12th century. The bell tower, completed in 1642, is 35 metres high and thus shapes the historic appearance of the church building. Also located in Breia is the painting “gloria di San Giovanni Battista” by Lorenzo Peracino the Elder, dating from 1761. It was the first cycle he created for the parish church of Breia.

Woodland landscape and the Pista ciclopedonale della Valsesia

Another side of Breia is revealed by the “Pista ciclopedonale della Valsesia”. It follows an uphill section on an unpaved surface through chestnut and beech forests to S. Bernardo di Breia. Stage 2B includes the “Chiesetta di S. Bernardo” in Breia as an attraction. The gradient, surface and different types of woodland provide concrete guidance if you are looking for more landscape-focused impressions on your trip rather than an exclusively cultural focus.

Art and regional history

The art installation “Custode delle Vie d’Acqua” is also part of a widespread art project intended to raise awareness of environmental protection and the importance of water. Cellio and Breia provide historical context for the area: both were strategic points of the Valsesian resistance from the outset. Breia and its hamlets also formed a transit zone between Valsesia and Cusio. The traditional Simposio di Scultura takes place between Cellio and Breia.

Caves, peaks and museums in the wider surrounding area

The Montefenera Caves and the Grotte di Ara, both caves, are located in the wider regional area around Breia. The Monte Trevigno and Monte Piogera are also situated in this wider regional area and are classified as peaks. Cultural and historical interests are represented there by the “Come Eravamo” Museum, the Museo Meina, Arteadarona and the Archaeological Museum. The various destinations thus offer a range extending from landscapes to museums, without requiring you to limit your trip to just one type of experience.

Choose the right focus for your trip

You can choose accommodation in Breia according to the pace you want for your trip: perhaps the parish church, the painting and the history of the resistance are your main focus, or perhaps the woodland landscape of the trail or the destinations in the wider surrounding area. This keeps your choice of a holiday apartment or holiday house focused on the experiences you want to place at the heart of your stay.

More places to include in your plans

For additional ideas of places to visit, you can also look at Varallo, Vocca, Cellio, Rimella, Valduggia, Motta Dè Conti, Carisio and Balmuccia.

For the higher-level travel overview: Vercelli.