Piane Sesia

Piane Sesia (to distinguish it from other places named "Piane") is a frazione (fraction) of Serravalle Sesia, in the Italian province of Vercelli. Other frazioni (fractions) of Serravalle are Bornate, Vintebbio and Serravalle Sesia itself. Piane, that count around 400-500 inhabitants,is furthermore divided into 10 frazioni or, more properly, cantoni: Mazzone, Naula, Martellone, Imbricco,Quazzo, Bertola, San Giacomo, Castorino, Gattera and Sella.

Notable are the Oratorio di S.Carlo (1650 ca.), the Chiesa di San Giacomo (1624) and especially the Pieve di Santa Maria di Naula, that dates back to the earliest ages of Christianity, possibly built over an ancientpagan temple. The structure we see now was built in the XI century and restored deeply in the XIX century.

In the territory of Piane the highest point is the Pietra Groana (also spelled Croana), 699 m above the sea level. It hosts a maintained mountain refugee and the 130m tall rock-wall is used a training ground by climbers.