The Sanctuary of Oropa

Biella - The Sanctuary of Oropa rises majestic, monumental, grandiose at 1180 meters above sea level, in the municipality of Biella, between the Piedmontese Alps. It is the oldest and most important Marian Sanctuary of all the Alps; the devotion is directed to a gothic black Madonna, kept inside the ancient basilica, raised in 1600 over the previous church, with a gray, austere, sober facade.

The Madonna is 132 cm high, made of wood, built in the 13th century. According to tradition, the statue was brought by San Eusebio from Palestine in the 4th century. Legend has it that they wanted to transport the Madonna from Oropa down to the city, but the statue became so heavy that it became transportable. He wanted to stay in Oropa and so it was. Since then, it has preserved the area from various natural disasters. The sanctuary more than a place of devotion, appears as a grandiose palace, with an elegant portico and a splendid square to flaunt all its magnificence. It is also the seat of the Quintino Sella meteoro-seismic observatory, founded in 1874. The cloister houses a wonderful fountain. The upper basilica is beautiful, the construction of which began in 1885 but with great difficulty it was consecrated only in 1960. The interior is beautiful and rich. The Sanctuary is an ideal place to meditate and reflect as well as pray. UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003.