The Sacro
Monte di Oropa is a Roman
Catholic devotional complex in the comune of Biella, Piedmont,
northern Italy. It is one of the nine Sacri Monti of Piedmont and
Lombardy and is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Construction
began in 1617, near the pre-existing Sanctuary of Black Virgin of
Oropa, one of the oldest in Piedmont and one of the best known in
the region of the Alps.
The 12
chapels (plus another seven nearby) are united by a
devotional path, and inside these chapels scenes from the
story of the life of the Virgin Mary are represented. The
minute dimensions and expressions of the characters, the
shades and colour tones and the vivid, precise settings of
the episodes envelop the visitor in a warm atmosphere which
grows from one chapel to the other until reaching Paradise
(chapel XV – The Crowning of Mary), on the top of the hill,
a Baroque work of art by the brothers Giovanni and Antonio
d'Enrico, animated by 156 modeled figures.
The sanctuary
makes its own chocolate and biscuits in case the 13
restaurants in the area don’t have enough food for you.
Rooms range from the austere to the opulent, with period
furnishings and private suites. Doubles from $60 in the low
season. Suites from $100.
