Sanctuary of Oropa


The Sanctuary of Oropa, is a group of Roman Catholic buildings and structures in the municipality of Biella, Italy. It is located at a height of 1,159 metres in a small valley of the Alpi Biellesi.

History

According to legend, a black wooden statue of the Virgin Mary carved by Saint Luke was found in Jerusalem by Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, carried to Oropa in the 4th century AD and placed into a small niche in a big boulder. In the Middle Ages, a church was built around the niche housing the statue, and was replaced in the early 17th century with what is known today as the Ancient Basilica. During the following two centuries, several other buildings were added to the complex, including the royal apartments of the House of Savoy, a big library and the Royal Gate, a masterpiece designed by the architect Filippo Juvarra in the 18th century.
The last addition to the sanctuary was the Upper Basilica, a monumental church built between 1885 and 1960 due the large number of pilgrims visiting Oropa. It can hold 3000 people and its dome is 80 metres high.
In 1617, the complex of the Sacro Monte di Oropa was built not far from the sanctuary. It is a devotional path now composed of twelve chapels containing groups of statues representing scenes from the story of the Virgin Mary's life.
A new graveyard was built near the Sacro Monte in the 19th century, for noble families of the Biellese territory to build their family tombs. Some graves have freemason symbols, such as Quintino Sella's.

Devotion and popular beliefs

The statue of the black Madonna has always been venerated; several miracles and protections are attributed to the Virgin of Oropa. According to the popular tradition, the town of Biella made a vow during the 17th century plague and its inhabitants were spared by the infection. Following this grace, the town does a pilgrimage every year to the sanctuary in order to thank the Virgin Mary.
During the centuries, people made ex-voto pictures to thank the Virgin Mary. All of these pictures are still preserved in the sanctuary in the 'ex voto gallery'. The oldest picture dates back to 1522 and was made by painter Bernardino Lanino.
The popular belief says that the wooden statue has some peculiar characteristics:
Around 800,000 pilgrims and one-hundred pilgrimages visit the sanctuary each year.
The evocative and ancient pilgrimage from Fontainemore to Oropa takes place every five years.

Nature conservation

The mountain area surrounding the sanctuary is included in a regional park of 1,518.28 ha named Riserva Naturale Speciale del Sacro Monte di Oropa.

Sports

Cycling

The Sanctuary has been the finish line of a stage of the Giro d'Italia six times.
YearStageDateTrackkmWinnerLeader general classification
196311ª29 MayAsti > Santuario di Oropa130 Vito Taccone Diego Ronchini
199320ª11 JuneTorino > Santuario di Oropa162 Massimo Ghirotto Miguel Indurain
199915ª30 MayRacconigi > Santuario di Oropa160 Marco Pantani Marco Pantani
200713ª25 MayBiella > Santuario di Oropa 12,6 Marzio Bruseghin Danilo Di Luca
201414ª24 MayAgliè > Oropa184 Enrico Battaglin Rigoberto Urán
201714ª20 MayCastellania > Oropa131 Tom Dumoulin Tom Dumoulin

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