On the long straight road that crosses the various inhabited areas, in a well-defined area, right

in front of the town hall – a typical example of Valsesian architecture from the first half

of the 19th century, stands majestically the church of San Maurizio Martire, an autonomous parish that separated from Varallo in 1585.

The current monumental building, built between 1769 and 1777, replaces the ancient parish church, which stood along the royal road connecting Varallo to the upper valley, of which only the bell tower remains. The interior preserves many precious artistic works, among which the altarpiece from the school

of Gaudenziana painted on wood – dating back to 1567, depicts the Madonna with Child and the

saints Maurizio and Marco – and the twelve paintings with the stories of the Virgin's life, works by the

famous painter Luigi Realis (17th century).

Also worth mentioning is the large 19th-century organ.

The different localities, all equipped with their own Oratory and, since 1911, with the communal washhouses forming the characteristic seven fountains, are a testament to the tenacity of their inhabitants, whose first documentary attestation can be traced back to the acts of the oath of the so-called “Vercellese citizenship” in 1217.

From the inhabited area of the locality Isola, characterized by a few scattered farms and connected by the ancient suspension bridge crossing the river – the only one in Italy with the original ropes, rebuilt in the second half of the 19th century – opens the vast Val Gavala, rich in challenging hiking routes, with its breathtaking views both over Valsesia and

Monte Rosa as well as the Biella area, with which it borders.

The locality Mogliani until the 1950s was known for the craft activities of making baskets, gerle and Valsesian cradles made of small wooden shingles: a skill unfortunately now lost, whose products are now sought after as valuable antiquities.

From this locality, excursions to the pastures and the historic aqueducts in the mountain of Lavaggio can start, as well as the crossings up to the neighboring territory of Rossa in Val Sermenza.

The hill of Sassiglioni, finally, reachable both via ancient paths and the carriage road, still preserves, particularly in the architecture of the Oratory of Madonna della Neve and in Palazzo Antonini, the charm of a glorious past; the small inhabited center, which has enjoyed strong residential redevelopment in recent years while respecting history and the environment, is a starting point for beautiful hikes

towards the Valle Mastallone.