Roppolo on the hilltop between lakes and trails

In the surroundings of Lago di Bertignano lies the Natura 2000 site IT1130004 “Lago di Bertignano (Viverone) e stagno presso la stazione per Roppolo”, designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). A flat, accessible road runs through the area; the shores lie in a peaceful rural setting with a few farmhouses.

Castello di Roppolo above the lakes

Castello di Roppolo stands on a hill in the Serra and rests on a tower dating from the 10th century. The castle’s entrance courtyard offers views of Lago di Viverone and the lakes of Canavese. If you would like to visit Castello di Roppolo, please note that visits are subject to specific arrangements: the castle can only be visited as part of a guided tour, and the number of visitors is limited each day. From April to October, you can buy tickets online or at the castle boutique; only online reservations guarantee you a place. From November to March, the museum is closed to the public, and the castle can only be visited with a reservation made at least 48 hours in advance.

Churches and sacred history

The Chiesa di San Michele was rebuilt at the beginning of the 17th century beside an older Romanesque church, whose history has been documented since the 12th century. The Chiesa di San Michele also houses an important relic of the head of Saint Vitale. The Parrocchiale della Beata Vergine del Rosario was built towards the end of the 18th century in the Baroque style. Its notable features include important wooden sculptures and a chapel frescoed by Giulio Delleani in 1848.

Processions and trails through Roppolo

An annual procession leads from the Chiesa di San Michele di Roppolo Castello to the sanctuary of Saint Vitale. This procession dates back to a public vow made by the inhabitants of San Germano Vercellese in 1613.

The Viverone–Santhià stage of the Via Francigena runs for approximately 15 kilometres through the southeastern part of the municipality of Roppolo. The Buon-Cammino trail offers views of Lago di Viverone and leads between farmhouses, vineyards and cultivated fields to Lago di Bertignano. It also leads to the remains of the 17th-century, now abandoned church of Santa Elisabetta. An approximately 3-kilometre hiking stage in Roppolo leads from Rolle near Viverone towards Lago di Bertignano as far as the Chiesa di Sant’Elisabetta, via Monte Orsetto, with an ascent of approximately 80 metres.

Archaeological traces at Lago di Bertignano

Monoxyle dugout canoes and the remains of a Late Bronze Age pile-dwelling settlement dating from 850 to 900 BC were found in the surroundings of Lago di Bertignano, in the Cava di Purcarel area. Cava di Purcarel is also associated with archaeological evidence of human presence since the Neolithic period, more than 3,000 years ago.

Erbaluce and wines of the Biella region

Roppolo is one of the three municipalities in the Biella region where the Erbaluce grape produces the wines Erbaluce di Caluso, Caluso passito and Erbaluce spumante brut. The vineyards around Roppolo also produce the two DOC wines Erbaluce and Canavese, both common in the Biella region.

More places to discover

Cossato, Vivaro, Sostegno, Donato, Graziano-Ruta, Zimone, Bioglio, Magnano

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Biella.