Mongrando: Blacksmithing Tradition and Historic Churches

Mongrando lies on the edge of the Bessa. Blacksmithing traditions, church art and traces of different eras shape the themes that define the town. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Mongrando, this mix offers a concrete starting point for planning your trip—without suggesting that the individual sights all tell the same story.

The Bessa and traces of the past

In the Riserva Speciale della Bessa, a Roman open-pit gold mine, stands an imposing structure that looks fortified. Since its discovery in 1963, it has been called the “Castelliere.” Excavations made it possible to trace the original layout of the mound of rubble left by gold washing, on which the Castelliere was built, and to reconstruct its structures. This archaeological site therefore brings together gold extraction and the structure itself.

Mongrando’s medieval history also has a geographical connection: because of its position at the entrance to the road to Canavese, the town was of considerable strategic importance at the time. Alongside the few surviving ruins of the old castle, traces of the former church of S. Maria di Castelvecchio can be seen. The 11th-century frescoes removed from the church are kept at the Museo del Territorio di Biella. The church remains at the site and the surviving frescoes are therefore now found at different points in the historical record.

A different historical perspective can be seen in the hamlet of San Lorenzo: its layout preserves traces of its origins in Roman times. This is distinct from the medieval connections and gives you another point of reference in time if you are interested in the town’s development.

Blacksmithing, metal and weaving traditions

The Fucina Morino is the only surviving family-run forge among the small workshops that once operated in this area. The remains of numerous forges along the waterways of the Ingagna bear witness to centuries of ironworking in the area. Together, the one surviving workshop and the scattered remains reveal two different sides of this heritage: a preserved forge and traces of a once more widespread craft.

The Ecomuseo offers educational activities in Mongrando throughout the year focused on metalworking. The workshops explore materials, repairs and new creations. The subject therefore extends beyond historic ironworking to include hands-on engagement with metal. The cloth mills in Mongrando keep another craft tradition alive by continuing the old practice of hemp weaving. Metalworking and weaving thus represent different materials and techniques within the local history of craftsmanship.

To visit the Fucina Morino, you can park your car in Piazza XXV Aprile, the square by the town hall. The rest of the way is along Via Marconi, Via Quintino Sella and Via Favre.

Churches and works of art

The parish church of S. Rocco in the hamlet of Ceresane houses two paintings from the early 17th century attributed to Mario Zuccaro. The church also has an organ made by Vitani between 1608 and 1610. Its carved case and gallery were designed and decorated around 1640 by Pietro Botto. The organ therefore combines an early date of construction with the later design of its case and gallery.

Other churches mark different periods. The parish church of S. Lorenzo is flanked by a Romanesque bell tower; the church of San Michele retains its original Romanesque bell tower. Comparing these two buildings, the focus is on the tower beside the church in one case, and the surviving original tower in the other. The church of S. Agostino was built in 1614 by the confraternity of the same name, while the Oratory of S. Maria delle Grazie contains 16th-century frescoes.

The frescoes from the church of S. Maria di Castelvecchio add 11th-century works to this overview; they are now kept at the Museo del Territorio di Biella. Those with a particular interest in art will find a range of different connections: attributed paintings, frescoes from different centuries, and an organ with a carved case and gallery that were added later.

Discover more destinations: Bielmonte, Tollegno, Lessona, Campiglia Cervo, Torrazzo, Sordevolo, Masserano, Vivaro.

Back to the main travel overview: Biella.