Oropa at a glance
The Sanctuary of Oropa lies in the hills above Biella and is a major pilgrimage site in Piedmont. It is a day trip from Lake Viverone rather than a lakeside stop, and it works well as a half-day from Biella. The two places to see first are the Basilica Antica, which holds the Black Madonna, and the Basilica Superiore, the large new basilica with the green dome.
West of the sanctuary climbs the Sacro Monte, a cycle of 12 Marian chapels from the 17th and 18th centuries. You do not need a cable car to visit the sanctuary itself. If you want to combine Oropa with wine, castles and villages in one day, our Piedmont tours and day trips show what can be booked in the region.
Our picks: Oropa
The sanctuary tour meets at Oropa itself and includes lunch, so it suits a half day on the spot. The train day trip from Turin makes Oropa one stop among several, with Piazzo and a regional tasting.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Biella, Oropa and Piazzo day trip by train from Turin
- Transport from and to Turin
- Oropa and Piazzo visits
- Regional food tasting
The guide speaks English and Italian. Museo dei Tesori and entry to Palazzo Ferrero, Palazzo Lamarmora and Palazzo Gromo Losa are extra.
Check availability →Oropa Sanctuary tour with lunch
- Old and upper basilica
- Typical lunch with water and wine
You meet at the sanctuary itself. The Black Madonna stands in the old basilica.
Check availability →Day trips and tours around Biella and Oropa
Guided visits, wine tastings and day trips in the Biella and Ivrea area, with live prices and availability.
Visiting Oropa: the basilicas
Most visitors start in the Basilica Antica, the older of the two basilicas and the home of the Black Madonna. The Basilica Superiore is the new basilica, and its green dome is easy to recognise from the sanctuary squares.
The sanctuary is built around large courtyards with arcades, so a visit is mostly a slow walk between the squares, the churches and the porticoes. Opening hours of the churches can change with services and the season, so check the current times before you travel. Dress modestly and keep your voice low in the basilicas, as this is a working place of worship.
- Basilica Antica: the older basilica, with the Black Madonna.
- Basilica Superiore: the new basilica above, with the green dome.
- Squares and arcades: the first square opens onto the mountain slopes, and the arcaded courtyard looks out over the plain.
The Sacro Monte of Oropa
The Sacro Monte is a separate part of the visit. It lies west of the sanctuary and consists of 12 chapels dedicated to the Virgin Mary, built in the 17th and 18th centuries. The chapels are a UNESCO World Heritage site and a regional nature reserve. Do not confuse this with the UNESCO listing of the pile dwellings at the lake: they are two different World Heritage sites. You can read about the lake one on our pile dwellings page.
Plan some extra time for the chapels if you like walking. Wear shoes with grip, as paths in the hills can be damp after rain, and carry water.
Getting to Oropa from Biella
The cable car is closed, so the bus or the car are the ways to reach the sanctuary.
| Option | Starts at | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Bus 360 | Biella San Paolo | Runs via Cossila and Favaro to Oropa. Check the current timetable and fare. |
| Car | Biella | About 14 km. Ask at the sanctuary about parking arrangements. |
| Cable car (Funivia) | – | Closed for technical revision, no reopening date. Do not plan around it. |
For most visitors without a car, the simplest plan is the train to Biella San Paolo and then bus 360 to Oropa. Biella San Paolo is the rail hub for the bus. If you are driving from Lake Viverone, plan the day so that you also see Biella on the way back.
The Oropa cable car is closed
The Funivia Oropa is closed because of a technical revision of the installation, and there is no reopening date. Do not plan around a ride up the mountain. The same goes for the onward trip to Monte Mucrone: do not count on a continuous link from the sanctuary up the mountain.
The closure does not change a visit to the basilicas or the Sacro Monte. They are reached on foot from the sanctuary squares. If you come hoping for a mountain ride, make the sanctuary and the chapels the point of the day.
Combine Oropa with other stops
Oropa fits into a Biella day, and the villages and castles of the area are close enough to add.
Biella: old town and Piazzo
The town below Oropa, with the Piazzo quarter, the replacement bus and the wool heritage.
The Ricetto of Candelo
A medieval fortified storage village near Biella with free access to its lanes.
Castello di Masino
A castle with terraced gardens and a hornbeam maze, a short drive from the lake.
Oropa: frequently asked questions
Is the Oropa cable car running?
No. The Funivia Oropa is closed for technical revision and there is no reopening date. You can still visit the sanctuary and the Sacro Monte without it.
How do I get to Oropa without a car?
Take the train to Biella San Paolo and then bus 360 to Oropa. The line runs via Cossila and Favaro. Check the current timetable before you go.
How far is Oropa from Biella?
About 14 km.
What is the Black Madonna?
It is the Marian image kept in the Basilica Antica, one of the two basilicas of the sanctuary.
Is the Sacro Monte the same as the pile dwellings UNESCO site?
No. The Sacro Monte of Oropa, with its 12 chapels, is a different World Heritage site from the prehistoric pile dwellings at Lake Viverone.
Is this the official website of the sanctuary?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not connected to the Santuario di Oropa, the Biella tourist board or any local authority. Check the sanctuary for current opening times.