POLLONE is a charming village in the Piedmont region. It has several restaurants, markets, a botanical garden and numerous other services, all within walking distance.

Piedmont Region “foot of the mountain” (Piemonte) is Italy's westernmost region. It borders on Switzerland and France, and is hemmed in by Alps and Apennines. Piemonte is the birthplace of the modern Italian State, the originator of such Italian staples as vermouth, Fiats and bread sticks, and a beautiful region full of surprises. The region's climate is rigid by Italian standards, with distinct changes of season. Winters are cold with plenty of snow; summers are usually warm and dry; spring and autumn are usually cool with fog normal at harvest time. It’s stunning unspoiled scenery includes mountains, lakes, parks, nature reserves, castles, DOC vineyards, lush rolling hills and medieval villages.

There are day trips of all types, from the mountains to the lake of Viverone within a beautiful scenic drive. This area of the Piedmont region is of course best known for its gourmet foods and world class wines.

Pollone offers a variety of excursions and activities:

The Wine Routes - The itinerary through the lands and wines of the Biella district departs from Lake Viverone, a popular resort surrounded by the slopes producing the Doc wines of Canavese and Erbaluce. In addition to the water sports, there are lakes for pleasant rambles on foot, bicycle or horseback. Roppolo Castle, headquarters of the Enoteca Regionale della Serra where all the region's wines can be tasted and purchased. From there, Biella is within easy reach by road, where it is possible to visit the town's medieval centre, Piazzo, try Canestrelli, the town's delicious traditional sweet, or Ratafià, a characteristic liqueur produced in nearby Andorno, before visiting Europe's third largest Sanctuary at Oropa, a monumental place of pilgrimage. This is also an obligatory culinary pause to enjoy the Sanctuary's renowned hot chocolate, or a plate of polenta concia (maize porridge with fondue cheese) in one of the numerous nearby restaurants. From Biella it is possible to visit Candelo, known for its beautifully preserved late medieval fortification, the Ricetto. Spread over 13,000 square metres, this Ricetto (the italian name means "refuge") is listed as one of the best conserved in Europe. Candelo itself is surrounded by one of the district's nature reserves, the Riserva Naturale della Baraggia, a wild and evocative apparently flat plain linking Biella with the Po valley. From Candelo, the itinerary proceeds toward the east of the district, along the modern highway between Biella and Cossato, to visit the district's other Doc wine producing areas, Lessona, Bramaterra and Coste del Sesia. This is the green heart of the district stretching from Masserano, where a visit to the medieval centre is a must-do, to Sostegno, an enchanting little village immersed in the green hills. Well known among mushrooms hunters, the area is also the ideal place for rambles through its beautiful vineyards in any seasons, along the footpaths that lead to the Valsessera, a mountainous area between Biella and the Sesia Valley. This wonderfully uncontaminated environment is still home to chamois, deer and marmot. Naturally, the area has a good number of restaurants offering the district's traditional dishes, accompanied by the wines these splendid sun-kissed hills produce each year.

Lakes

• Lago di Viverone small beautiful lake in Biella province
• Lago Maggiore
• Orta Lake a romantic lake in Verbania province

Natural parks

• Burcina Natural Reserve

Via Delleani is named after the famed artist:

Lorenzo Delleani (b Pollone, Vercelli, 17 Jan 1840; d Turin, 13 Nov 1908). Italian painter. He attended the Accademia Albertina in Turin, and he first exhibited work at the Società Promotrice delle Belle Arti in Turin at the age of 15. Having already made his name as a history painter, from 1860 he painted from nature, dedicating himself primarily to landscapes with figures, for example the famous Processions, a genre in which he is today considered as one of the most important artists of his time. Delleani worked on such paintings, all of the same format, daily and dated each precisely. His earliest landscapes were small-scale views of Venice and its lagoon, dating from 1873. In 1878 he completed some smaller works on panel, such as The Orchard, the Seine at Paris and the Market Place at Berne.

FOOD

Culinary delights of Biella

Cheeses (Dairy Farms)

PIER LUIGI ROSSO DAIRY (CASEIFICIO PIER LUIGI ROSSO) is situated in Biella where the Oropa and the Cervo valley meet in the centre of the Alpine arc. Awarded the honor of “Excellence of Piedmont Artisans”.

Via Serralunga, 11/13 - 13900 - BIELLA (Italy)
Tel. +39 015.27416 - Fax +39 015.2522373
OFFICES – MATURING – PACKING
Via Pier Giorgio Frassati, 146/148 - 13814 - POLLONE (BI)
Tel. 0039 015.6108887-37 - Fax 0039 015.2563600
Web: www.caseificiorosso.it/en/index.htm
E-mail: info@caseificiorosso.it

BOTALLA FORMAGGI di Bonino S. & C.
The dairy tradition since 1947

Via Ramella Germanin, 5 - 13900 BIELLA - ITALY
Tel. +39 015 28163 - Fax. +39 015 33425
Web: www.botallaformaggi.com/english/chi_siamo.htm

Salami (Dry Meats)

SALUMIFICIO DI VIGLIANO
Via Milano, 177 - 13856 Vigliano Biellese (BI)
Tel. 015 510287
Web: www.salumificiodivigliano.it/EN_azienda.htm
E-mail: info@salumificiodivigliano.it

Bakeries

AMETIS
Via Oremo,98
13814 Pollone
Tel.: (+39) 01561221

L'ANTICO FORNO DI ZAGHI MARCO
Via Caduti Per La Patria,14
13814 Pollone
Tel.: (+39) 01561736

Restaurants in Pollone and surrounding areas (Piedmont)

BAR TRATTORIA PARCO BURCINA
Cascina Valfenera Superiore - Parco Burcina
Cell.: 328 9552619
Price:$$
Reservation: Mandatory
Credit cards: Cash only
Open April-September all days except Tuesday.
Winter: Open only Saturday and Sunday.
Dinner: Friday & Saturday

RISTORANTE IL FAGGIO
Via Oremo, 54
Pollone (BI)
Tel: 015/61252
Type: Traditional
Price: $
CC: All types
Closed: every Monday, January
E-mail: ilfaggio@libero.it
Web: www.ristoranteilfaggio.it

RISTORANTE IL PATIO
Via Oremo, 14
Pollone (BI)
Tel: 015/61568
Type: Regional
Price: $$
CC: All types
Closed: every Monday and Tuesday, January 1-15, August 15-30
E-mail: ilpatio@libero.it

TRATTORIA ROLLE - Viverone
Via Frate Le Bole, 27 - Frazione Rolle
13886 Viverone (BI)
Tel: 0161 98668
Fax: 0161 989707

Web: www.trattoriarolle.it

ANGIULLI
Via Cerventi, 1
Candelo (BI)
Tel: 015/2538998
Type: Contemporary
Price: $$$
CC: All types
Closed: Mondays and for lunch (except Saturdays and Sundays). The month of August

For further culinary adventures in the Piedmont area click here

DRINKS

MINERAL WATERS of the Biellese are famous for their exceptional lightness (the water Lauretana, low in mineral content, today is the heir of an ancient hydrotherapeutic tradition).

Wines

There isn’t a lack of wine, including some well-known D.O.C. Denominazione di origine controllata; the Italian quality assurance label for food products and especially wines.

Wineries and Winemakers:

AZIENDA LA CELLA DI SA MICHELE
Via Cascine di Ponente, 21 - 13886 Viverone - Biella
Tel: +39 016198245

BARNI
Via Forte, 63 - 13082 Brusnengo - Biella
Tel: +39 015 985977 - Fax: +39 015 985977

SELLA
Via IV Novembre, 110 - 13853 Lessona - Biella
Tel: +39 015 99455 - Fax: +39 015 99455

ENOTECA REGIONALE DELLA SERRA
is nearby where all the region's wines can be tasted and purchased.
Via Al Castello, 2
Roppolo, Biella 13883
Tel: +39 0161 98501 - Fax: +39 0161 980981
Web: www.assoenoteche.it/roppolo/home.htm

Beers

Biella is also the home of Menabrea, one of the best lagers in the world, made on limited volumes in artisan way.

BIRRA MENABREA SPA
via Ramella Germanin, 4
13900 Biella
Tel: +39 015 2522320
Fax : +39 015 2522350
Web : www.birramenabrea.com

E-mail: info@birramenabrea.com

Liquors

Ratafià (Rah-tah-FEE-AH) di Andorno, a drink made of wild cherries steeped in alcohol according to a 500-year-old recipe. One of the oldest and important Piemonteese liquor. A sweet liqueur made from bitter cherries (amarene from amaro or bitter).

GELATO

La Casa Del Gelato
Via Attilio Botto, 5 - Pollone
T el: 015 2563020

SHOPPING

Biella is internationally known for its production of high quality wools and yarns, so business is taken very seriously here. Well equipped hotels and top quality conference centers are widely available for meetings and conventions that are set in a historical-environmental context of great importance.
More than 50 outlet stores are found alongside Europe's most prestigious textile companies. Here quality and good prices come hand in hand; what could be a better souvenir from Biella than a cashmere coat or a beautiful piece of fabric purchased at cost?

Textiles

Biella’s wealth is based on wool. It is said that designers like Valentino, Armani and many others shop here, so if your looking for a little cashmere number, this is your place.

PIACENZA 1733
Wool Mill
Pietro Francesco Piacenza created the first woolen mill in Pollone. The family prides itself on its strict quality standards—its method of producing wool takes up to six times longer than some more modern techniques. The company’s president today is Riccardo Piacenza.

Piacenza is a member of the Henokiens Association, they have reached a minimum age of 200 years, they are managed by a descendant of the founder, the family still owns the company or is the majority share holder and they are in good financial health.
Founded: 1733
11th generation
FRATELLI PIACENZA SPA

Regione Cisi

13814 Pollone - Biella

Tel: +39 015 619 1733
Web: www.piacenza1733.it
E-mail: info@piacenza1733.it

Suggested tour:
Visit of the Piacenza Famili Foundation with its iconography and documents on the wool industry since the 18th century and on the family story. Video, booklets and billboard viewing. Visit of the manufacturing workshop and of the high quality fabric production process of the company with, at the end, the pure cashmere pull-overs and the men and women collections of accessories. The visit is free of charge and can be organized only for groups of minimum 20 persons after appointment.
Schedules: from 9 to 12 am and from 2 to 6 pm
Languages Spoken: Italian, French, German, English (depending on the availability)

BIELLA YARN ITALY
S.S. Trossi, 8
I-13871 Verrone - Biella
Tel: +39 015 255 85 04
Fax: +39 015 255 74 51
Web: www.biellayarn.com
E-mail: mail@biellayarnproject.it

THE PLACE LUXURY OUTLET
Strada Trossi, 13876 Sandigliano (BI) Italy
Web: www.theplaceoutlet.com/inglese/biella.htm

TOBACCO SHOP (TABACCHERIA)
De Troia Maurizio
Via Burcina, 30
13814 Pollone (BI), Italy

Tel: 015 61515

BARBER/ HAIR-DRESSER
Abballe Mario Parrucchiere
Via Caduti Per La Patria, 29 - Pollone
Tel: 015 61375

Bonino Mirella Pettinatrice
Via Burcina, 5 - Pollone
Tel: 015 61518

Perona Alfredina e Piera
Via Pier Giorgio Frassati, 23 - Pollone
Tel: 015 61353

DOCTOR
Via Caduti Per La Patria, 45 - Pollone
Tel: 015 610240

GOLF

Associazione Sportiva
GOLF CLUB BIELLA “LE BETULLE”
Magnano Biellese - Regione Valcarozza (BI)
Tel 015 679151 - Fax 015 679276

Ristorante Living Garden GOLF CLUB
Via Mino 46 - 13836 Cossato (BI)
Tel 015 980556 - Fax 015 9844646

GREEN PARK HOTEL & RISTORANTE GOLF CLUB
Loc. Navolotto - S.S. 143/n.75 - 13881 Cavaglià (BI)
Tel. 0161 966771 - Fax 0161 966620 - Toll free 800 231 785

Tenuta "Il Castello" Golf Club Cerrione
Via Libertà 34 - 13882 Cerrione
Email: tenuta.castello@libero.it

SKIING

In less then 30 minutes drive you can ski in Oropa and Bielmonte; within an hour drive, Valle d'Aosta houses some of the most beautiful ski slopes in the world (Cervinia, Courmayeur, Pila, etc.); and with a little bit more effort at about 2hrs drive you will find the 2006 Winter Olympic Games resorts of Turin (Sestriere, Bardonecchia, Salice d'Ulzio, etc.)

Lago di Viverone

Location: Piedmont: Provinces of Biella, Turin and Vercelli

Primary sources: underwater springs
Settlements: Viverone, Lido, Masseria, Comuna, Anzasco

Lago di Viverone (in Piedmontese Lagh ëd Vivron) is a lake in northern Italy. Named after the town of Viverone, lies at 230 m AMSL between the districts of Biella, Vercelli and Ivrea in the area of morainic hills known as Serra. It has an area of about 6 km² and a maximum depth of 70 m, and a perimeter of about 10.5 km. The lake is 3,500 m long and 2,600 m wide. The southern and western parts of the lake are rich in vegetation while the north part is built-up and includes hotels, camping sites and beaches.
Ducks, mallard, coots, grebes and gulls form the major part of the fauna; angling is a popular activity with catches including common whitefish, perch, tench, pike and catfish.
Viverone is a centre for day trips and the lakeside communities of Lido, Masseria, Comuna and Anzasco have recently been connected by a boat service.
The lake is an also an important archaeological site: villages made up of stilt houses were present here in the Bronze Age (1300–900 BCE).
Viverone is an important point for wine tours in Monferrato, for excursions in Biellese, Aosta Valley and passage for Tunnel of Mont blanc and S. Bernard.