Rustico in Occhieppo Inferiore

The Biellese sits at the foot of the Pennine Alps, with the first prealpine ridges and valleys immediately north of Biella. The Cervo and Elvo valleys begin within a few kilometres, and the Serra d'Ivrea, a long morainic ridge left by the ancient Balteo glacier, lies close to the south-west. The Oasi Zegna starts above Trivero in the upper mountains of the province, within roughly this radius from Biella's northern side, with marked mountain roads and high pastures. The nearest ski area is Bielmonte in the Oasi Zegna, about 30 to 40 minutes by road. Biella is the main town of the area and has the full range of services; the hilltop borgo of Biella Piazzo preserves the historic upper town reached by the funicular. The area is known for its long textile tradition, for wool mills along the mountain watercourses, and for the Santuario di Oropa in the mountains above the city, a major religious complex and a UNESCO World Heritage component within the Sacri Monti system.