Graglia: Hiking Trails, Santuario and Natural History

In Graglia, the area ranges from the town centre at 600 metres to mountain areas above 2,000 metres. Your trip can therefore focus on very different things: walks along the network of trails, culture around the Santuario di Graglia, or a longer mountain hike. If you are looking for a hotel in Graglia, first consider which of these interests you want to shape your days.

Landscape and trails

A dense network of trails leads from the town centre through the Santuario hamlet to the alpine pastures. Walks are possible at any time of year. This makes it easy to plan time outdoors without devoting your entire trip to a summit hike. The different elevations also define the landscape: the town centre is at 600 metres, while the mountain areas reach above 2,000 metres.

Individual trails and destinations are also useful for finding your way around. A gravel road leads from San Carlo to the Rifugio Alpe Pianetti, at an elevation of 1,321 metres. Trail PSR 10-1 leads from the Santuario di Graglia to Mombarone. It is described as a moderately difficult hike, 8 kilometres long, with an ascent of 1,540 metres and a stated walking time of 4 hours and 15 minutes. When planning this hike, consider not only the distance, but also the elevation gain and the estimated time.

Experienced hikers can climb to the 2,373-metre summit of Mombarone. The trail from the Santuario di Graglia to San Carlo also offers a special experience: at a marked spot, a shouted word can be heard as an echo after a fraction of a second. In suitable conditions, the echo can even repeat a word of eleven syllables.

Santuario, church and art

The origins of the Santuario di Graglia date back to a project conceived by don Nicolao Velotti in 1615. The foundation stone was laid in 1659, and construction was completed in the second half of the 18th century. This distinguishes the date of the original project from the much longer construction period.

The Sacro Monte di Graglia includes four chapels integrated into the church building, as well as another chapel on Colle di San Carlo. One scene consists of about ten life-size polychrome terracotta figures. The Madonna della Neve church is in the hamlet of Campra, on the edge of the village of Graglia, and faces the mountain landscape of the Valle Elvo.

Natural history collections

The Museo di Scienze Naturali in Piazza Crida houses about 700 well-preserved taxidermied birds. The museum also has a catalogued collection of minerals and shells. Visitors interested in natural history can therefore find several types of collections in one place.

Graglia is also home to the Noro ornithological collection, which contains more than 600 specimens. They come from Piedmont and various European countries and date from the late 19th to the early 20th century. The two collections offer different perspectives: in addition to birds, the Museo di Scienze Naturali features minerals and shells, while the Noro collection is characterised by the geographical origins and dates of its specimens.

Local cuisine and practical information

Restaurants at the Santuario serve traditional dishes from the Biellese region. These include “polenta concia”, “fundua”, “ris an cagnun”, “bagna caouda” and “palpiton”. As menus can change, it is a good idea to check the current menu before planning a meal.

Graglia has a serviced motorhome stopover at Casale Campiglie. As facilities can change, check the latest information before your trip. The stated routes from Biella take the A4 motorway to the Carisio or Santhià exits, then continue via the SS 230 or SS 143. From the Ivrea exit on the A5, the route follows the SP 419 via Chiaverano, Donato and Netro. Road conditions and signage can change, so check the current route before departure.

Discover more destinations: Torrazzo, Mongrando, Cossato, Simone, Zimone, Bioglio, Romagnano, Graziano-Ruta

For the main travel overview: Biella.