Biella
Biella
| |
|---|---|
| Comune di Biella | |
Baptistery of Biella | |
Location of Biella | |
| Coordinates: 45°34′N 08°04′E / 45.567°N 8.067°E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Piedmont |
| Province | Biella (BI) |
| Frazioni | Barazzetto, Chiavazza, Colma, Cossila, Favaro, Lago del Mucrone, Oropa, Pavignano, Vaglio, Vandorno |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Claudio Corradino |
| Area | |
• Total | 46.68 km2 (18.02 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 420 m (1,380 ft) |
| Population (31-12-2017) | |
• Total | 44,324 |
| • Density | 950/km2 (2,500/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Biellese(i) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 13900 |
| Dialing code | 015 |
| Patron saint | St. Stephen |
| Saint day | December 1 al January 30 |
| Website | Official website |
Biella (Italian: [ˈbjɛlla] ⓘ; Piedmontese: Biela; Latin: Bugella) is a city and comune (municipality) in the northern Italian region of Piedmont, the capital of the province of the same name, with a population of 44,324 as of 31 December 2017. It is located about 80 kilometres (50 miles) northeast of Turin and at about the same distance west-northwest of Milan.
It lies in the foothills of the Alps, in the Bo mountain range near Mt. Mucrone and Camino, an area rich in springs and lakes fed by the glaciers, the heart of the Biellese Alps irrigated by several mountain streams: the Elvo to the west of the town, the Oropa river and the Cervo to the east. Nearby natural and notable tourist attractions include the Zegna Viewpoint, the Bielmonte Ski Resort, Burcina Natural Reserve, and the moors to the south of town. The Sanctuary of Oropa is a site of religious pilgrimages. In 2003, the Sanctuary of Oropa Sacred Mountain of Oropa became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Biella is an important wool processing and textile centre. There is a small airport in the nearby comune of Cerrione.