The Sanctuary of Oropa (Biella)

Sanctuary no.01

The Sanctuary of Oropa can be reached from Biella, with a little hill road that climbs up the mountain for 15 kilometers. It's one of the largest sanctuaries in Piedmont, famous and frequented by many tourists and prominent figures. You park in the square in front (paid and free parking), then you climb various stairways to reach the Sanctuary which is high on the top of the hill, behind, as a backdrop, there are the mountains of the Biellese area making the scenery for the Sanctuary. Entry is free, pilgrimages are often held and days of meetings with church personalities. Before arriving at the churchyard and being able to access the interior of the Sanctuary, a wide square opens up that welcomes tourists with Bars, Restaurants and the possibility of overnight stay, souvenir shops, bookstores, a small chapel and the fountain.

Climbing the last steep staircase you access the churchyard and from here to the church. The interior is rich in paintings and statues, stuccoes, niches and altars. Inside the sanctuary there is the visitable and underground crypt which is accessed from inside the sanctuary itself. The crypts cannot be visited during masses. The Sanctuary is large, with a great dome that dominates the structure, from above and with its mass, the Sanctuary dominates the valley. Immersed in greenery among the mountains, it also has a visitable botanical garden, a library and attractions in the surroundings.