Oropa Sanctuary

The Oropa Sanctuary, located at an altitude of 1,200 metres in the Biella Pre-Alps, is the largest Marian shrine in the Alps and, since 2021, has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site within the Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy. 

Its origins date back to the 4th century, when Saint Eusebius brought Marian worship here, and even today the statue of the Black Madonna, kept in the Ancient Basilica, is the focus of centuries-old pilgrimages. The large and spectacular monumental complex includes basilicas, cloisters, votive chapels and the evocative monumental cemetery, framed by a natural amphitheatre of woods and peaks.

But Oropa is not only a place of faith: it is also art, history and nature. The Baroque and Neoclassical architecture recounts centuries of devotion, while the paths leading from the sanctuary invite visitors to discover the mountain basin, Lake Mucrone and the surrounding peaks. Each season offers different emotions, from spring blooms to autumn colours to the snowy silence of winter.

A place of profound spirituality, culture and scenic beauty, Oropa is a destination that combines contemplation and discovery, welcoming those seeking tranquillity as well as those who wish to immerse themselves in the nature of the Biella Alps.

Find out more about this place here: https://www.santuariodioropa.it/