The village of Carnival
Ancient history, environment, enterprise, work, economy, trade characterize the profile of this Valsesian town, the industrial and economic capital and the most populous center of the area.
Its origins are truly ancient if historical accounts assign its founding in 14 B.C., with the Latin name of Seso which later became Borgofranco and finally Borgosesia. There are several chapters in Italian history that mention this Valsesian center, from the Middle Ages to the Napoleonic era, from the Risorgimento to the wars of the last century.
Of interest in the village is the Parish Church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, an imposing 17th-century building with a spacious and bright interior, which houses admirable works by Bernardino Lanino, Gaudenzio Ferrari, Tanzio da Varallo, Rocca, Gianoli, Zali and many others, as well as several splendid antique furnishings, the Shrine of Saint Anne, on a hill at the edge of the village accessible via a pathway characterized by devotional chapels, and the Napoleonic Bridge that leads to the hamlet of Agnona.
Borgosesia is known everywhere for its Carnival, a grand, traditional, and heartfelt event that enjoys its own notoriety and special vitality
Also interesting is the part of the territory that develops on the Fenera Natural Park: from the locality of Fenera San Giulio starts the itinerary that leads to the discovery of the Caves, true karst cavities unique in their kind in the Valsesian territory.
Inside these cavities, archaeological finds of great importance have been discovered: in addition to the remains of cave bears, Merck's rhinoceros, and other prehistoric animals, human remains dating back at least 300,000 years have been discovered here, which have redated the presence of humans throughout Northern Italy.
The archaeological remains are visible at the Carlo Conti Archaeology and Paleontology Museum, currently closed for renovation work, but absolutely not to be missed once the renovations are completed.
Borgosesia is known everywhere for its Carnival, a grand, traditional, and heartfelt event that enjoys its own notoriety and special vitality, matured over more than a century of life and always supported by strong popular passion and significant participation.
An unusual feature of the Carnival of Borgosesia is a unique event: the Mercu Scurot, the Wednesday of ashes. If the traditional carnival ends on Fat Tuesday, in this Valsesian locality, it is the first day of Lent that marks the end of the festive period, in which a long parade, dressed in traditional tails, top hat, cloak, and galla, stages a funeral for the carnival itself.