02. VIVERONE - ROPPOLO

Itinerary
Km 2,3 / Elevation change + 39
After the cemetery (where there is the Church of Santa Maria, a rare example in Biella of 15th century gothic art and now a national monument), the municipality of Roppolo is entered. Along the main road there are some historical buildings: the asylum – now used as a library -, many private homes – including one used hundreds of years ago as an inn for the francigeni pilgrims – and the Town Hall. Just afterwards there stands the 18th century Church of Vergine del Rosario, in the shadow of its mighty tower. Taking the ascending road along which, at the beginning of autumn, there is held the characteristic "Race of the fireworks", the Castle is reached, a massive construction whose original core dates back to the 10th century, and is now home to the Serra Regional Wine Purveyors: in the cellars (16th century) there are 300 types of wine and a collection of 30,000 carefully selected bottles. The viewing point offers a splendid panorama over the lake of Viverone, the Morainic Amphitheatre of Ivrea, Azeglio, Masino Castle and Morzano Castle. Outside the centre there is the small Church of San Rocco, after which is located a fountain, the last before reaching Cavaglià: stock up! After the peak of the moraine area, a gradual descent begins towards the plain going through coppices of chestnut and a succession of clearings: a touch of colour (and taste) is found in the summer from the large numbers of blackberries that can be found growing wild along the sides of the road.
Contacts
, 13040 Viverone (BI)

45.4276049, 8.0511769