Biella

Access

In terms of accessibility, Biella is well connected via the and motorway and railway networks with Turin and Milan, as well as being served by an efficient local road network that connects it to neighbouring municipalities such as Andorno Micca, Gaglianico, Vigliano Biellese, Mongrando, Tollegno, Piatto and Quaregna Cerreto. 

Introduction

Biella, capital of the province of the same name in Piedmont, lies on the edge of a plateau on the slopes of the Biellese Alps, where the valleys flow into the plain. The city, today with a population of around 43,200, boasts a privileged position, poised between hilly environments and the foothills of the Alps, which give it suggestive views of pastures, woods and mountains. Biella's origins are very ancient: traces of settlements dating back to the Bronze Age have emerged in the surrounding area, while medieval documents record it as Bugella, a centre of trade and culture for multiple peoples of Roman, Alemannic, Longobard and Frankish stock[biellaclub +2]. The village developed thanks to the Bishop of Vercelli, who in the 10th century fortified the nucleus and encouraged expansion on two levels: the Piazzo, with its medieval appearance, and the flat, modern and dynamic part.

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Description

Biella soon became the scene of important historical events. Having passed to the Savoy family in the 14th century, in the 17th century it was elevated to provincial capital by Charles Emmanuel I, but had to face several trials, including the devastating plague of 1630 and the Spanish sacking of 1647. In the Risorgimento, it was the hothouse of illustrious patriots such as the La Marmora family and Quintino Sella, the latter being instrumental in the founding of the Banca Sella.
Nineteenth-century industrialisation led to urban expansion and the establishment of the wool sector, still the beating heart of the local economy today, along with other excellencies such as the Menabrea Beer founded in 1846.
The municipal territory is divided into historic districts such as Piazzo, Riva and Vernato and into hamlets nestled between the valleys: Barazzetto, Chiavazza, Favaro, Oropa, Pavignano and Vandorno. The Oropa and Elvo streams flow around Biella, outlining a geography of plateaus and gentle hills, enhanced by the presence of the Burcina Natural Park and the views of Mount Mucrone, a favourite destination for hikers and mountain lovers. There is no shortage of places of particular historical and artistic value, such as the Romanesque baptistery, the bell tower of Santo Stefano and the medieval village of Piazzo, which encloses stately palaces and small cobbled streets.
The Biellese economy remains strongly anchored to textiles: companies of international resonance as Zegna, Vitale Barberis Canonico, Fila and Lanificio Cerruti testify to a tradition that is intertwined with innovation and local know-how[wikipedia]. Craftsmanship survives in wrought iron work and furniture manufacture, while the presence of institutions such as Città Studi nurtures an educational and cultural tradition. Lively voices of the Biellese culture are the events related to crafts, the food and wine festivals, the patronal feast of San Stefano and the typical dishes, among which stand out the polenta concia and panissa.
Biella offers a rich network of hiking trails that connect the city to the Sanctuary of Oropa (1,180 m), one of the most famous spiritual destinations in Italy, and to the surrounding valleys, where there are mountain huts and trails suitable for all levels of experience. The Alta Via delle Alpi Biellesi is the emblematic itinerary for hikers wishing to immerse themselves in the pre-Alpine environment amid historic villages, centuries-old forests and summit views.

Information

Area: 46.69 square km
Altitude: 417m
Maximum elevation: Mont Mars (2600m)
 Number of inhabitants: 44817
 Name in dialect:
Inhabitant name:
Patron Saint:
Internet site:
Webcam:
Bordering municipalities: Andorno Micca, Candelo, Fontainemore, Gaglianico, Occhieppo Inferiore, Occhieppo Superiore, Pettinengo, Pollone, Ponderano, Pralungo, Ronco Biellese, Sagliano Micca, San Paolo Cervo, Sordevolo, Tollegno, Vigliano Biellese, Zumaglia
 Villages and hamlets: Barazzetto, Chiavazza, Colma, Cossila San Giovanni, Cossila San Grato, Favaro, Oropa, Pavignano, Vaglio, Vandorno