- Villages
Confienza
Confienza, an eminently rural town in Lomellina, nestled between the provinces of Novara and Vercelli and administratively part of the Province of Pavia, was originally a simple "Roman pagus" village. It was once called "Confluentia" due to the confluence of two rivers. This is reflected in the town's current coat of arms, which features two fish entwined with dragon heads spouting water into a river.
At the far end, guarding about a third of the town towards Robbio, stands the Chiesuola... a true gem of Gothic architecture. Its ribbed vaults reaching up to the sky, the pointed windows through which mystical light pours, and the white Carrara marble altar make it an artistically harmonious complex that inspires reflection. On the wall of the small choir, a magnificent fresco appears, thought to be from Lanino or at least his school. It is the church of the Carmelite Sisters, the small church that gathers a good portion of the population during the busiest months, away from the main parish.