Biella (Piedmont)

The Sanctuary of Oropa

Biella is a town and comune in the northern Italian region of Piedmont, the capital of the province of the same name. It is located about 80 kilometres (50 miles) northeast of Turin and about 80 kilometres (50 miles) west-northwest of Milan. It lies in the foothills of the Alps, in the Bo mountain range near Mt. Mucrone and Camino, an area rich in springs and lakes, the heart of the Biellese Alps irrigated by several mountain streams: the Elvo to the west of the town, the Oropa and the Cervo to the east. Nearby natural and notable tourist attractions include the Zegna Viewpoint, the Bielmonte Ski Resort, Burcina Natural Reserve, and the moors to the south of town. The Sanctuary of Oropa is a site of religious pilgrimages. In 2003, the Sacred Mountain of Oropa was inserted by UNESCO in the World Heritage List.

Piedmont Highlights

Conversations
Gianni (L) and Edoardo Agnelli in St. Tropez in 1998
An Agnelli Family Expert Sheds Light on the Last Italian Dynasty

Italy Magazine sat down with author and journalist Jennifer Clark to discuss the legacy of the Agnelli family, sometimes called “Italy’s Kennedys,” as Fiat marks its 125th year.

Food & Drink
Safely cooked clams
5 Classic Italian Clam Recipes That Won’t Get You Arrested

A Michelin-starred chef in Piedmont recently got jail time and a hefty fine for serving contaminated clams at a wedding. We asked our Senior Recipe Writer Francine Segan how to avoid his mistakes.

Italy in Brief
gianduiotti
Lindt Calls a Truce in Turin Over Piedmont’s Famous Gianduiotto Candies

The Swiss confectionery giant Lindt has put an end to a months-long “dolce” dispute with Italian chocolatiers, who are working toward PGI recognition for Turin’s famed foil-wrapped chocolates.

Travel
Ivrea Orange Festival / Photo: RnDmS via Shutterstock
At Ivrea’s Battle of the Oranges, the Truth is Stranger Than (Pulp) Fiction

On the eve of Carnival season in Italy, we take a look at Piedmont’s most peculiar festival and its citrusy twist.

Style & Design
Workers in the Lettera 22 department
How Adriano Olivetti and One Typewriter Symbolized the Keys to Work-Life Balance

70 years after the Lettera 22 earned the prestigious Compasso d’Oro, Italy’s first industrial design award, we look back at the intertwined legacies of the machine and the man.

What you can't miss in Piedmont

Where is Biella

Top Experiences in Piedmont

Properties for sale in Piedmont

Restored Country House in Quiet Location / VGA001
Country Home - Restored in Vigliano d'Asti
225000
Villa with Garden and Views onto the Town of Alba and the Alps / ALB008
Town - City Home in Castino
700000
Elegant residence with 1 ha of land, swimming pool and tennis court / VNM004
Country Home - Restored in Villanova Mondovi
975000
Villa with Garden and Terrace / VCF006
Villa in Vicoforte
400000
House in a Village with Pleasant Views and Small Garden /SVL010 0
Town - City Home in Serravalle Langhe
59000
Country house for sale
Country Home - Restored in Salmour
545000
Restored Country House with Stunning Views and a Hospitality Section 0
Country Home - Restored in Feisoglio
670000
Completely Restored Country House in a Commanding Location / CSS004
Country Home - Restored in Cissone
890000

Recipes From Piedmont

Recipes
Caesar salad
The Original Caesar Salad Wasn’t Named for a Roman Dictator, But an Italian-American Restaurateur

Julius Caesar had nothing to do with the name of this recipe or its origins. One enterprising Piedmontese-American chef working stateside and south of the border did.

Recipes
Asti Spumante Strawberry Granita
Asti Spumante Strawberry Granita

This delicious and summery sweet relies on a top-quality DOCG dessert wine as its base.

 

Recipes
agnolotti
Agnolotti: Piedmont’s Classic Ravioli

Agnolotti, little bundles of fresh pasta that are filled with anything from a mix of meats to vegetables, are an iconic dish of the Piedmont region of northern Italy.
 

Recipes
amaretti cake
Torta di Amaretti | Amaretti Cake

This baked cake has a surprisingly delicate almond flavor. Enjoy a slice with coffee or tea, or a glass of amaretto liqueur.

 

Recipes
corzetti
This Pasta With Marjoram Pesto is Inspired by 14th-Century Genoese Coins

Uniquely shaped corzetti (also called curzetti and croxetti) are a type of pasta that’s been popular since medieval times. Here they are served with a delicious marjoram pine nut pesto. 

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What others are saying about Piedmont

@peter.s.collins asks:

I have just joined this community because we are considering buying a house in Piedmont that we have.

For energy supply and heating, I was wondering about using solar panels and air-source heat pumps.

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@reruger asks:

Hi, we (Dutch/Ukrainian couple) are looking for a short term rental place in Piedmont (preferably Biella) to get settled in the first place (residency) and to buy a home later on in Piedmont. Thanks

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@francoisgs asks:

Hi anyone based in Piemonte around Nizza Monferrato / Acqui Terme had experience with septic tank cleaning and can recommend a reasonable supplier ? thank you very much, 

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