← Maratona del Riso·Day trip

Vercelli: The Rice Capital on the Day After

Vercelli is the larger town at the centre of Piedmont's rice country, a flat walk and a rice-based lunch for legs that have covered the plain.

DurationDay trip
TransitRegional train or road from Santhià, check timetable
DepartsSanthià

After the Maratona del Riso: Vercelli

The Route: Santhià → Vercelli → Santhià Logistics: A regional train or a short drive. Check the timetable for the day, since weekend and holiday services may be thinner. Marathon Month: May Duration: Day trip

Santhià ──(regional train or road, check timetable)──> Vercelli ──(same route back)──> Santhià

The Maratona del Riso runs through the rice country of the Vercelli area, and the organiser's regional page lists the villages of Santhià, Tronzano, Bianzè, Crova, Salasco and San Germano on its route. Vercelli is the town at the centre of that country and a reasonable place for the day after.

May in Vercelli is mild, and the paddies around the town are flooded at this time of year in most seasons, so the landscape is at its most distinctive. Conditions vary with the year. Check opening hours for churches and museums, since many close for part of the day.

The town

The centre is flat and compact, and the walk between the main squares and the cathedral area takes under an hour. Benches are easy to find. The pace should match the legs: one or two sights and a long lunch is plenty.

Food

Rice is the local subject. Ask at the hotel for a restaurant that serves the regional rice dishes, and confirm opening days. A headline from the organiser's 2026 report mentions panissa, a rice dish of the area, so it is worth asking for.

Getting back

Return to Santhià by the same route. Check the last train before dinner, and keep a taxi as a fallback.