Trino Vercellese: the municipality of rice

On the left side of the Po River and close to the Monferrato hills lies the Trino municipality, also known as Trino Vercellese. The township covers such a vast territory that it is home to the Bosco delle Sorti della Partecipanza Nature Park, a rare Italian example of a lowland forest, a unique testimony of what the Po Valley used to look like before it was farmed. 

This municipality is therefore located on the most humid part of the Vercelli area, a few kilometres from the provincial capital. However, the humidity is a beneficial factor because this area is rich in rice fields, reclaimed marshes and agricultural fields. The cultivation and sale of rice represent the main economy of this place. Here we are going together to discover Trino, a very special and little-known municipality that is worth getting to know and visiting if you are near Vercelli. 

What to see in Trino

Originally, Trino was known as Rigomago, meaning the king's camp and market. During Roman domination it became a Masio, an ideal place to take a relaxing break before heading to the more important Pavia and Turin. The name Tridìnum, today Trino, originated in the 6th century A.D. when the city, destroyed by the barbarians, was rebuilt by the Lombard commanders who decided to fortify and secure it with a wall and three castles for defensive purposes. 

Today those ancient walls that allowed the expansion and reconstruction of Trino are no longer visible, except for a short stretch near Via Monte Grappa, near the Cittadella dei Marchesi del Monferrato where Palazzo Paleologo still stands.

When visiting Trino, there are some things that are absolutely not to be missed, among them the Principato di Lucedio, a beautiful complex among the rice fields of Trino where it is possible to see the grance, a French term for the areas reclaimed and cleared by the Cistercian monks who created the rice fields that are still active. Grance means barns, and was the term used by the monks to signify both housing and storage for the equipment and products cultivated. The principality contains the monastery, courtyards and gardens and it is advisable to organise a guided tour to hear the historical explanation of the buildings. 

Late spring, however, is the perfect time to get to know the Bosco della Partecipanza and admire the blooming of the lilies of the valley and the flourishing vegetation, a true naturalistic jewel that has come down to us thanks to strict governance rules dating back to 1275 instituted by the Marquis of Monferrato Guglielmo il Grande.