Cammino di Oropa della Serra
Piemonte, Italy
Italy · Santhià, Italy → Biella, Italy
Distance
64 km
Stages
4
Difficulty
moderate
Best months
Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct
Cammino di Oropa della Serra · Stages and distances
Walking distances for Appy’s stages (4)
| Stage | km |
|---|---|
| 1. Santhià → Roppolo | 16.4 |
| 2. Roppolo → Sala Biellese | 17.5 |
| 3. Sala Biellese → Santuario di Graglia | 15.7 |
| 4. Santuario di Graglia → Santuario di Oropa | 14.8 |
| Total | 64.4 |
About
A 65 km cultural walk from Santhià to Biella. Four stages of rolling hills, ancient villages, and the scent of wild thyme.
The Cammino di Oropa traces the footsteps of Saint Charles Borromeo, who shaped the region’s spiritual landscape. With 3,414 m of elevation gain, it’s approachable for beginners, yet every ascent is a gentle reminder of nature’s power.
Key stops like La Mandria and the Bose Monastery enrich the experience. Best walked in spring or autumn, this route invites a week of reflection and connection to the land.
Stages
4 stages
- Stage 1
Santhià → Roppolo
moderate- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 189 m
- Descent
- 101 m
- Stage 2
Roppolo → Sala Biellese
moderate- Distance
- 18 km
- Ascent
- 443 m
- Descent
- 228 m
- Stage 3
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 623 m
- Descent
- 407 m
- Stage 4
- Distance
- 15 km
- Ascent
- 911 m
- Descent
- 569 m
Points of interest
- Chiesa della Santissima Trinità
Church, in Santhià, Italy.
- Castello di Bollengo
Castle. Bollengo Castle (Italian: Castello di Bollengo) is a castle located in Bollengo, Piedmont, Italy.
- Castellazzo
Castle, in Donato, Italy, designated as Italian national heritage.
- Castello Rondolino
A neo-medieval castle rebuilt at the end of the 19th century for the Rondolino family.
- Monte Orsetto
A small wooded hill of 452 metres, known above all for prehistoric finds.
- Castle of Roppolo
Castle, in Roppolo, Italy, designated as Italian national heritage.
- San Michele
Church, dedicated to Archangel Michael, in Roppolo, Italy.
- Sacro Monte di Oropa
A path of 19 chapels with frescoes and statues: twelve on the life of the Virgin Mary, seven on episodes of Christian faith, begun in the early 1600s.
Travel
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Oropa: the basilicas or the Sacro Monte?
At Oropa, spend time in the basilicas or walk on to the twelve chapels. Your bus back to Biella can help you choose.
Oropa without a car: Santhià and Biella
Step off the train in Santhià, walk four stages to Oropa and head home through Biella. Leave a little time for the sanctuary, too.
How to choose a walking route: stages, days and ascent
How many days can you actually spend walking? Start there, then choose stages that leave you time to stop along the way.
Take your walk with you: download Appy
Cammino di Oropa della Serra. Explore maps, stages and elevation in the app, and plan your train or bus journey.
