Study Visit to Vercelli (20–22 May 2025)

The Cycling Waterways project is set to hold its third partners' meeting in Vercelli, Italy, from 20 to 22 May 2025, with a rich program of field visits, presentations, and workshops focusing on the cultural and infrastructural heritage of waterways.

Organized by Ovest Sesia in collaboration with the Piedmont Region and the Politecnico di Torino, this study visit will explore how historic irrigation systems, canals, and agricultural landscapes can be revitalized through sustainable mobility solutions, particularly cycling. The event will serve as a platform for policy exchange, local engagement, and the sharing of inspiring good practices from across Europe.

Key Highlights of the Visit

• Vercelli: The City of Rice and Water
  Participants will discover Vercelli’s unique cultural identity, shaped by its long-standing connection with water, rice cultivation, and hydraulic engineering. A guided tour will introduce visitors to the Rice Exchange, historic canals, and Ovest Sesia's collaboration with local museums to promote heritage education.

• Cycling Along the Cavour Canal
  The tour will highlight the Canale Cavour Cycle Route, a central axis in the Piedmont Region’s cycling mobility plan. Partners will follow the canal to Chivasso, Lucedio Abbey, and Cascina Oschiena, where heritage, biodiversity, and cycling tourism converge in a protected natural area.

• Hands-On Experiences
  A stop at the West Sesia hydraulic toll booth will feature a demonstration by a traditional waterman and a discussion on how this infrastructure can support cycling-related storytelling and tourism services.

Learning from Best Practices

The program includes several expert-led presentations:

• The Role of Waterways in Heritage Valorisation – Diego Teruzzi (Ovest Sesia)

• Cycling Mobility Policy Instruments – Cristina Fabrizio (Piedmont Region)

• Safe Cycling along Towpaths – Paolo Ruffino (Royal Haskoning)

• Participatory GIS Mapping – Ottavio Castelletti & Ada Gabucci (Piedmont Region & FIAB)

• The Cycling Waterways GIS Platform – Guido Sitta (ESRI Italia)

These sessions will demonstrate how integrated policy, local engagement, and smart mapping tools can transform historical infrastructures into sustainable assets for both tourism and environmental conservation.

A Shared Vision for the Future

The Vercelli study visit is more than just an exploration—it is a moment of collective learning and co-design. Partners will discuss how to further connect cycling infrastructure with cultural and environmental heritage, and how to bring these lessons back to their own territories.

Stay tuned for more updates, photos, and insights from Vercelli as we continue building a greener and more connected future for European waterways!