Biella
Biella is a province in the northern part of Piedmont region. Since ancient times, it was a favourite destination for religious pilgrimages and still today Biella is rich in churches and religious buildings such as the Sanctuary of Oropa, the Sanctuary of Graglia and the Sanctuary of San Giovanni d'Andorno. Biella lies in a mountainous area and its economy is mainly based on animal farming. Still today, people practice the transumanza (transhumance) in spring and autumn. The dairy industry is very important and the most renowned cheeses are Toma, the typical cheese of Macagno and also salami such as the "paletta biellese", a shoulder of ham flavoured with salt and pepper, that is then packed into bladder skins and left to dry in the air. Other typical products include the famous wines of Erbaluce and Bramaterra and the liqueur Ratafià. Other local culinary specialties are the polenta concia (seasoned with melted butter and cheese) and supa mitunà. Biella has known an important industrial development and is also called the "Manchester of Italy" due to the factories that have been built since the second half of the19th century. In fact, Biella is an important wool processing and textile centre. The so called Via della Lana (The Road of the Wool) is a panoramic road dedicated to the wool manufacturer and fashion designer Ermenegildo Zegna. Biella is also famous for the production of hats, exported all over the world. Among the most important monuments there are the Cathedral (Duomo), the Baptistery, one of the most ancient buildings in Romanesque-Lombard style and the Church of Santissima Trinità, the Church of S. Sebastiano, the Church of S. Filippo, the Parish Church of S. Cassiano, the Church of S. Francesco d'Assisi (Hospital), the house of the Shroud (a typical building built in the 15th century). On the entrance door, you can see the fresco of the Shroud lifted by Saint Filippo Neri. Other buildings are the Torrazza Gate, Scaglia Palace, Palazzo della Cisterna (palace), Porta d'Andorno (city gate), the Church of San Giacomo, the Ferrero Della Marmora Palace