1812 M. Biella. PHOTOGRAPHS HOTELS (comp. p. xxi). *Testa Grigia, *Alb. dell' Angelo, *Leon d'Oro, Alb. Centrale, plain but good, all in the Via Umberto Primo. - POST & TELEGRAPH OFFICE, Via Arnulfo. of the mountains at Vittorio Sella's. CABLE RAILWAY from the Piazza del Duomo to the upper town (10 c.). CARRIAGE for half a day 6, with two horses 12, whole day 12 or 20 fr.; to the Santuario di Graglia or the Santuario d'Oropa 12 or 18 fr. there and back. Biella, an episcopal see with 16,300 inhab., lies on the Cervo and is divided into Biella Piazzo (1558 ft.), the upper town, and Biella Piano (1345 ft.), the industrial lower town, with factories of woollen and cotton goods, for which the power is furnished by the Chiusella and the Dora (near Pont-St-Martin, p. 69). From the station, beside which is the pretty Giardino Pubblico, we turn to the right into the Via Umberto Primo, the main thoroughfare of the lower town. The Via del Vescovado, the first sidestreet on the left, leads to the church of San Sebastiano, a handsome Renaissance structure of 1504, with a modern façade (1882). The life of the town centres round the Largo della Vittoria and the Piazza del Duomo, also to the left of the Via Umberto Primo. Here are the Palazzo Municipale, on the site of the church of Santo Stefano (pulled down in 1872 with the exception of the 10th cent. campanile), and the Cathedral, originally erected in the Gothic style in 1402, but modernized in 1772 (façade of 1825). Close by is an early-Romanesque Baptistery (9th cent.?). Among the palaces of the upper town, which are now partly tenanted by artisans, the former Palazzo del Comune, the Pal. Scaglia, and the Pal. Del Pozzo della Cisterna should be noticed. 1512-17. On a hill on the left bank of the Cervo stands the former conventchurch of San Gerolamo (1515 ft.), a tasteful Renaissance edifice of On the plateau, 2 M. to the S. of Biella, to the W. of the road to Sandigliano (p.85), is the Castello di Gaglianico (1150 ft.; 14-16th cent.), with a fine courtyard. The interior was modernized in the 17-18th cent.; the beautiful park was laid out in the 17th century. From Biella a STEAM TRAMWAY (51/2 M. in 3/4 hr.) runs to the S.W. viâ (2 M.) Occhieppo Inferiore (1365 ft.) and across the Elvo to Mongrando (1055 ft.), the starting-point of the road (p. 68) viâ the Valico della Serra to Bollengo (Ivrea). A ROAD Commanding fine views (motor-car to the Santuario di Graglia twice daily in 40 min., fare 2 fr., back 11/2 fr.; omn. to Graglia Paese; carr., see above) leads to the W. from Biella, viâ Occhieppo Inferiore, Occhieppo Superiore (1495 ft.), and Muzzano (1775 ft.), to (712 M.) the Santuario di Graglia (2665 ft.; Alb. dell' Eco), a pilgrimage - church (17th cent.) with a large home for pilgrims (ospizio), situated 2 M. above the village of Graglia Paese (1955 ft.), on the S.E. slope of the Colma di Mombarone (see below). Close by is the Stabilimento Idroterapico di Graglia (2790 ft.; P. from 9 fr.). A still more extensive view is obtained from the Cappella San Carlo (3375 ft.), 3/4 hr. to the N.; hence a footpath leads past the chalets of Paglie di Sopra (5270 ft.) and the little Lago Pasei (6950 ft.) to (4-41/2 hrs.) the top of the Colma di Mombarone (7780 ft.), whence we have a splendid view of the Monti Biellesi, the mountains encircling the Aosta valley, and the Monte Rosa group. An ELECTRIC LIGHT RAILWAY (61, M. in 1 hr.) runs to the N.W. of Biella, viâ (11, M.) Cossila San Grato (1790 ft.), the (2 M.) Stabilimento Idroterapico di Cossila (P. 8-10 fr.; open June-Sept.), and Favaro |