Novara

 

(nōvä'rä) , city (1991 pop. 101,112), capital of Novara prov., Piedmont, N Italy. It is an agricultural and industrial center and a rail junction. Manufactures include textiles, chemicals, machinery, metals, processed food, and printed materials. It is a major market for rice. Several battles were fought (1500, 1513) near Novara during the Italian Wars. At Novara, in Mar., 1849, the Austrians under Radetzky defeated the Piedmontese under Charles Albert (see Risorgimento). The Church of San Gaudenzio (16th–17th cent.) has an impressive campanile (19th cent.).