Zimone: Moraine Ridges, Forest Paths and Wine Traditions

Zimone lies between the moraine ridges and hollows shaped by the Serra. This landscape is combined locally with religious buildings and paths through the greenery. For planning your trip, Zimone can therefore be explored through its landscape, culture and activities.

Moraine Ridges, Forests and Vineyards

The houses of Zimone, grouped around the church, lie on the watershed. Green forests and vineyards surround the town; at the same time, the view extends to Lago di Viverone and across the Canavese.

Churches, Chapel and Ecomuseo

The parish church of San Giorgio in Zimone is dedicated to Saint George and dates from the 17th century. On the hill above the town stands the Cappella di San Grato, which dates from the 16th century.

The monastic cell of San Michele di Bellino was built in the 12th century and cared for by Black Benedictines. Zimone is also home to the Ecomuseo Valle Elvo e Serra, located by the Chiesa di San Rocco.

Forest Paths and Historic Routes

For walks, forest paths lead around Zimone through the green landscape. The paths around Zimone lie in the moraine landscape shaped by the Serra. These same forest paths can also be explored on horseback or by mountain bike. The St. Charles's Way leads to Zimone along a mule track. Near the Roc della Strega, this mule track is taken. Historically, Zimone stood at the end of a high-altitude road that connected the Biellese hinterland with the Via Francigena, the Strada delle Gallie. When planning an individual stay in Zimone, it is worth considering the historical route connection separately from the activities in the forest.

The Parco Regionale della Bessa regional park lies in the immediate vicinity of Zimone. Gold was mined there in the Elvo and Olobbia streams during Roman and pre-Roman times. The manual removal of the spoil created a gently undulating plateau with heaps of rubble up to 15–20 metres high.

Wine and Traditional Festivals

At Il Cantavino, you can use a cup purchased at the various entrances to sample different types of wine and drink larger quantities. Il Cantavino also includes a traditional competition involving treading grapes barefoot. The tradition of the Fagiolata in Zimone began in 1842. Il Cantavino is also associated with an event held on the second Sunday in September.

When choosing a hotel or other accommodation in Zimone, you can weigh up the town’s different highlights: religious buildings and the Ecomuseo for culture, forest paths for walks and mountain biking, Bessa for landscape and history, and Il Cantavino and Fagiolata for wine and festival traditions.

Further Places for Planning Your Trip

Further places for planning your trip: Cossato, Roppolo, Salussola, Masserano, Simone, Crevacuore, Bioglio and Castellengo.

To the higher-level travel overview: Biella.