Biella

History

The first inhabitants of the area were Ligurians and Celts. This has been ascertained from archaeological finds: they lived near streams and lakes, at first as fishermen and hunters, and later, herders.

A Ligurian people, the Victimuli, fanned out in the plain of Biella (the Bessa) and exploited gold veins near the Elvo, an activity which continued through the early Middle Ages, and even today panning for gold continues as a local hobby.

Tools and necklaces dating from the Bronze Age—or, according to some, Iron Age— attesting to Biella's antiquity, were found in the Burcina Reserve.

Middle Ages

The city's name appears for the first time as Bugella in a document of 826AD, recording the donation of Bugella to Count Busone by Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne), Holy Roman Emperor; a further document of 882AD records some land transactions of Charles the Fat in favour of the church of Vercelli.

In the 10th century the town was inhabited by Alemanni, Lombards and Franks, who built the first walls as a defence against barbarian invasions. Extant remains from this period include the Lombard Romanesque Baptistry and the adjacent church of S. Stefano, around which the town grew: it is today's cathedral, although the original 5th-century building was demolished in 1872.

On April 12, 1160, Uguccione, bishop of Vercelli, granted important trade privileges to anyone residing on Piazzo hill (elevated section of the city) as an incentive to the establishment of a place of refuge against the warfare between the Guelphs and Ghibellines of Vercelli: this was the birth of the Borgo del Piazzo, site of the handsome public square, the Piazza Cisterna, and a Palace fronting it, the doors of which have stone capitals and terracotta ornaments.

Bishop Uguccione's castle was destroyed in a revolt in 1377 that led to the subjection of Biella, along with its dependent comuni, to the yoke of the House of Savoy.

Modern times

In the 14th and 15th centuries, the Visconti family competed with Savoy for the possession of the Biella region. The 17th century saw a similar competition between French and Spanish forces, and Biella was actually occupied in 1704; in 1706 Pietro Micca, a Biellese soldier, saved nearby Turin from a siege that would have meant the invasion of Biella by the French as well—but paid for it with his own life.

In 1798 Biella was once again occupied by the French, and after the Battle of Marengo, Biella was formally annexed by France. The Congress of Vienna returned it to Savoy.

In 1859 Biella was besieged by the Austrians but Garibaldi forced an end to the siege, and the town became part of the province of Novara, losing its status as regional capital that it had received in the 17th century from Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy; it was transferred to the province of Vercelli in 1927.

In World War II Biella was the scene of armed resistance.

In 1992, the new province of Biella was formed, separating the territory from the north-western sector of the province of Vercelli.

Wool industry

In 1245 the statutes of Biella were already referring to the wool workers' and weavers' guilds: hardly surprising given the region's high mountain pastures and copious water supply needed for washing fleece and powering mills. In the 17th and 18th centuries, as elsewhere in Italy, silk was an important industry, and a silk factory was built in the town in 1695. In 1835, however, the town's textile history came round full circle when the same building was put to use as a wool factory with the introduction of mechanical looms, putting Biella at the forefront of modern improvements in the industry. Around 1999/2000, a progressively worse economic crisis in the wool sector forced many local wool mills to close since they could not compete with the prices of imported fabrics and clothing.

Climate

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Demographics

As of 2025, Biella has a population of 43,181, of which 47.7% are male and 52.3% are female, compared to the nationwide average of 49.0% and 51.0% respectively. Minors make up 12.5% of the population, and seniors make up 29.5%, compared to the Italian average of 14.9% and 24.7% respectively.

Immigration

As of 2025, the foreign-born population is 6,594, making up 15.3% of the total population. The 5 largest foreign nationalities are Moroccans (1,316), Romanians (679), Filipinos (400), Ukrainians (267) and Albanians (248).

Government

Culture

Biella is the home of Citta dell'arte (City of the Arts) - Fondazione Pistoletto.Citta dell'arte - Fondazione Pistoletto In 1994, Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto began Progetto Arte, whose aim was to unify the artistic, creative, and social-economic aspects (e.g. fashion, theatre, design, etc.). In 1996, he founded City of Arts/Citta dell'arte – Fondazione Pistoletto in a formally unused textile factory near Biella, as a centre supporting and researching creative resources, producing innovative ideas and possibilities. The Citta dell'arte is divided into different Uffici/Offices (work, education, communications, art, nutrition, politics, spirituality, and economics).

Main sights

• Biella Cathedral
• Biella Baptistery in romanesque style (10th-11th century), annexed to the cathedral, housing 13th-century frescoes
• Giardino Botanico di Oropa, a botanical garden
• Sacro Monte and sanctuary of Oropa
• Biella Synagogue
• Renaissance church of San Sebastiano (1504)
• Oasi Zegna, a natural preserve

Main businesses

• Cerruti 1881 (wear)
• Ermenegildo Zegna (wear)
• Vitale Barberis Canonico (wear)
• Fila (sportswear)
• Drago Lanificio in Biella (luxury fabrics)
• Banca Sella (bank)
• Cassa di Risparmio di Biella e Vercelli (bank)
• Menabrea (beer)

Transport

Biella has two railway stations. The main one, Biella San Paolo railway station, opened in 1939, is the junction of the Biella–Novara (opened in 1939) and Santhià–Biella (opened in 1856) railways. A second railway station, Biella Chiavazza, is in the district of Chiavazza, a short distance along the line towards Novara. The Biella funicular connects a lower station on Via Curiel, in the city's Biella Piano quarter, with an upper station on Via Avogadro in the city's medieval Biella Piazzo quarter.

Biella-Cerrione Airport in Cerrione serves Biella but does not operate any commercial flights to and from the airport. The nearest passengers are Turin Airport, Milan's Malpensa Airport, Linate Airport and Bergamo Airport.

International relations

Twin towns — sister cities

Biella is twinned with:

• JPN Kiryū, Japan
• PER Arequipa, Peru
• FRA Tourcoing, France
• CHN Weihai, China

Notable people

• Leone Azzali (1880-1963), politician who represented the Italian Republican Party in the Constituent Assembly of Italy in 1948.
• Virginia Angiola Borrino (1880–1965), physician who was the first woman to serve as head of a University Pediatric Ward in Italy
• Claudio Botosso (born 1958), actor
• Giovanni Bracco (1908–1968), racing driver
• Antonio Brivio (1905–1995), bobsledder and racing driver
• Tavo Burat (1932–2009), teacher and journalist
• Nino Cerruti (1930–2022), stylist, designer, and businessman
• Mario Gariazzo (1930–2002), Italian screenwriter
• Alberto Gilardino (born 1982), Italian FIFA World Cup Winner
• Piero Liatti (born 1962), rally driver
• Pier Giorgio Morandi (born 1958), Italian oboist and conductor
• Ugo Nespolo, Italian painter and sculptor
• Gabriele Piana (born 1986), racing driver
• Michelangelo Pistoletto (born 1933), artist
• Elvina Ramella (1927–2007), operatic soprano

References

References

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6. "Resident population by sex, municipality and citizenship". [[Italian National Institute of Statistics.
7. . ["DRAGO Lanificio in Biella: History"](https://www.dragobiella.it/en/about-us/). *Drago Group*.
8. (22 June 2016). "Elenco siti collegati a Biella". Biella.
9. (2021). "Storia Dell'Associazione Italiana Donne Medico (AIDM) (1921 - 2001)". Italian Association of Medical Women.
10. Angiola Borrino, Virginia. (2017). "La mia vita". Hoepli.
11. "Ugo Nespolo". ARTantide Worldwide.