Biella is located in the foothills of the Biellese Alps and its first inhabitants were the Ligurians and Celts. The first recorded information about ancient Bugella (Biella) dates back to a document of 826.
The medieval village of Piazzo, set on top of a hill, is the very heart of the city. However the symbol of Biella is the Baptistry, partly built with Roman remains: the structure is characterized by four semicircular apses on four sides of a central square. The characteristic basrelief set in the lunette of the front door dates back to the II Century and represents "Hercules, the child and a cherub".
Also interesting are the Church and the Cloister of San Sebastiano, wonderful example of renaissance lombard architecture, the San Girolamo Monastery, on the hill towards Chiavazza, the Bell Tower of Santo Stefano, what remains of the ancient Pieve where the Christian center of Biella developed.
Moreover the Sanctuary of the "Black Madonna of Oropa" is located thirteen kilometers from the center of the city at an altitude of 1180m. This is the most famous pilgrimage shrine of Piemonte, as well as one of the most important in Italy and perhaps the oldest shrine of Mary in the west.