Vivaro: the Bisingana and Romanesque heritage

At Vivaro, two streams join to form the Bisingana. After their confluence, the river flows south through a wooded valley fed by numerous small streams. The SP 234 Pray-Curino-Brusnengo road follows the Bisingana along this stretch. The river’s course, the shape of the valley, and its tributaries form a cohesive landscape theme. Trout are also stocked and caught in the Bisingana.

River landscape and hiking trails

One section of the Sentieri del Biellese includes Vivaro in its panorama and offers a view of the Romanesque bell tower of Santa Maria. A specific hiking route is GTB Stage 39 through Brusnengo and Curino: it is 5.84 km long, has 140 m of ascent, and a stated duration of 2 hours and 15 minutes. The figure of 140 m refers to the route’s ascent; 2 hours and 15 minutes is its stated duration, while 5.84 km describes the distance. This distinction is useful for planning: the Sentieri section emphasizes the panorama and the building, while the GTB stage is specified in terms of distance, ascent, and duration.

Romanesque architecture and settlement history

In the wider context of the municipality of Curino, the apse and bell tower of the “Church of the Assumption” in the hamlet of Santa Maria are examples of Romanesque art. The apse extends the view of the building beyond the tower and makes its Romanesque character visible in two parts of the church. The Oratory of San Bernardo and San Bernardino da Siena was located in the hamlet of Cantone Vivaro. In 1661, there was a small oratory; it was initially dedicated only to San Bernardo and later to San Bernardo and San Bernardino da Siena.

The history of settlement also provides a broader context. Vivaro and the hamlets of Santa Maria, Termino, Ronco, Ortovivaro, Colmo, and Olzera appear to have developed as a single settlement at the foot of San Giorgio Hill. This settlement was probably the castrum loci Quirini, below which the Curtem Quirini developed.

Curino: winemaking and geology

Bramaterra DOC is produced in the municipality of Curino. It combines Nebbiolo (50–70%), Croatina (20–30%), and Bonarda and Vespolina (10–20%). The grape varieties and percentage ranges help travelers interested in regional winemaking understand the wine more precisely. The hills of Rive Rosse are also in Curino, characterized by disintegrating quartz-bearing porphyry. The area is named after this rock. The origin of the name connects the geology with the landscape of the hills; wine production and the rocky terrain thus offer two different perspectives on Curino.

The geographical associations differ: the Bisingana and the oratory are directly linked to Vivaro and Cantone Vivaro, respectively; the Romanesque church, Bramaterra DOC, and Rive Rosse belong to the wider context of the municipality of Curino.

Discover more destinations: Mongrando, Castellengo, Viverone, Crevacuore, Netro, Cavaglià, Cerrione, Roppolo

For the broader travel overview: Biella.