Attraversare la bellezza: il valore dei cammini - Oropa

Simonetta Sandri · 22 September 2026

Il cammino non è una semplice camminata, ma una forma di meditazione in movimento.

In Italy, journeying along ancient paths means immersing oneself in a beauty crafted from perched villages, ancient forests, time-sculpted hills, and horizons that quiet the mind. Italy possesses a tapestry unique in the world, where every step weaves the grandeur of nature with a deep, pervasive spirituality—one preserved in the silence of country churches, isolated sanctuaries, and stones worn smooth by generations of pilgrims.

Footprints of the past that remain present. Walking restores value to time and space. In everyday life, bound to frantic rhythms and disconnection, setting out on foot becomes an act of self-care: it teaches essentiality, patience, and inner listening.

The WIN Experiences: Uniting Health and Territory

Within WIN’s wellness pathways, the experience of walking routes occupies a central place. This is not simply physical activity, but an integrated approach to health that combines movement, nature, and personal growth.

• Inner Reconnection: Moments dedicated to silence, breathing, and self-awareness along itineraries filled with strong spiritual energy.
• Enhancement of the Territory: Rediscovering Italian landscape and cultural heritage off the beaten track of mass tourism.
• Sharing and Community: Walking as a space for authentic dialogue, where shared exertion creates deep bonds among participants.
• Systemic Wellness: Lifestyle hygiene, prevention, and mental regeneration fostered by prolonged contact with the natural environment.

Through these paths, WIN invites you to rediscover the destination not as an arrival point, but as the transformation occurring step-by-step along the road—a way to discover a wonderful territory, its resident communities, and local produce, all at the right speed. A space for decompression that pauses daily noise and realigns body and mind, turning physical fatigue into an inner clarity rarely found in everyday chaos. We have spoken to you about both walking and silence.

Along the trail, the landscape is not merely a backdrop; it becomes an active partner in conversation. Every ascent and descent teaches the measure of one's own strength, every plain offers room to breathe, and constant contact with natural elements and historical traces provides a more authentic perspective on life. Looking up at the sky.

Today, we present the Cammino di Oropa: a beautiful and rewarding multi-stage trekking and pilgrimage route stretching between the Canavese plain and the Biellese Alps.

The real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. — Thích Nhất Hạnh

The Main Routes of the Cammino di Oropa

This multi-stage itinerary starts from the Canavese/Biellese plain and Valle d'Aosta, representing one of the most evocative historical and scenic approaches to the Sanctuary of Oropa. Situated at over 1,100 meters above sea level and dedicated to the Black Madonna, it stands as one of the largest and most majestic Marian complexes in the Alps, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There are four main routes:

• Via della Serra (Santhià to Oropa): The classic route, covering roughly 65 km across 3 or 4 stages. Starting at the railway hub of Santhià, it crosses the Serra Morenica of Ivrea and climbs into the Biellese woodlands.
• Via Orientale (Valle Mosso to Oropa): The most technical and demanding route to Oropa, spanning roughly 34 km. It can be walked in either direction: starting from Valle Mosso through Valle Cervo to reach the Sanctuary, or as an extension for travelers arriving at Oropa via the Serra or Canavesano routes. It can be split into 3 stages by well-conditioned hikers (or those walking downhill from Oropa toward Valle Mosso), or into 4 shorter stages to ease the 1,000+ meter elevation gain required to reach Bocchetto Sessera when heading toward Oropa.
• Via Canavesana (Valperga to Oropa): A scenic variant of roughly 84 km across 5 stages. It crosses the Canavese hills, visiting the Sacred Mountain of Belmonte before merging toward the Elvo Valley.
• Via Valdostana (Fontainemore to Oropa): An itinerary tracing the historic procession that takes place every five years toward the Sanctuary—a tradition with ancient roots. The route is divided into two short yet high-elevation-gain stages, which should be completed over two days rather than combined.

What Are the Stages of the Classic Route?

The standard route consists of 4 stages totaling roughly 62 km, starting from the railway hub of Santhià:

• Stage 1: Santhià ➔ Roppolo (16.5 km): A flat walk through rice fields and rolling hills leading to Roppolo Castle and Lake Viverone.
• Stage 2: Roppolo ➔ Sala Biellese (13.7 km): An ascent onto the Serra Morenica of Ivrea—the largest morainic ridge in Europe—immersed in chestnut forests.
• Stage 3: Sala Biellese ➔ Sanctuary of Graglia (16.1 km): A scenic stretch through the villages and forests of the Biellese Prealps, reaching the second sanctuary along the path.
• Stage 4: Sanctuary of Graglia ➔ Sanctuary of Oropa (15.1 km): The most demanding final stage, featuring significant elevation gain and steep climbs, offering views over the Oropa valley before arriving at the Sacred Mountain.

Characteristics and Logistics

• Waymarking and Credential: The path is clearly marked with official signage (a yellow background with the outline of a crown). Timbri (stamps) are collected on the Pilgrim's Credential at municipalities and shelters up to the Upper Basilica. The credential grants access to partner accommodations.
• Difficulty: Progressive. The early stages across plains and gentle hills are accessible, while later sections feature mountain ascents, descents, and steeper gradients.
• Seasonality: Walkable from spring to autumn. Between late November and April, higher elevations may experience snow or ice.

To prepare for the route, pack light: aim to keep your backpack weight under 8–10 kg (including water). The terrain consists mostly of dirt roads and hiking paths, ending with mountain elevation gains.

Recommended Clothing (Layered — verify with your guide)

• Footwear: Trail running shoes or low-cut hiking boots, flexible, breathable, and well broken-in (avoid brand-new shoes); 2–3 pairs of technical socks, anti-blister hiking socks made from synthetic fibers or merino wool.
• Base Layer (Underwear & Shirts): 2–3 short-sleeved technical shirts, quick-drying synthetic or breathable fabrics (no cotton); Technical underwear: 2–3 changes.
• Mid-Layer & Pants: 1–2 technical pants, one convertible or lightweight pair, and one pair of shorts.1 microfleece / lightweight fleece, essential for evenings or higher-altitude stages near the Graglia and Oropa Sanctuaries.
• Weather Protection: Waterproof shell / Windbreaker jacket, Gore-Tex or similar membrane; Rain cape / Poncho: Sized to cover both you and your backpack.

Curiosities: Origins and the Statue of the Black Madonna

Tradition attributes the founding of the sanctuary to Saint Eusebius, Bishop of Vercelli in the 4th century AD. According to legend, Eusebius brought the wooden statue of the Black Madonna directly from Jerusalem, hiding it in the Oropa basin to eliminate pre-existing pagan stone-worship in the valley.

• The Sculpture: A statue carved from Swiss pine wood in the 13th century by an artisan from Valle d'Aosta. The dark face of the Virgin and Child reflects the medieval iconographic tradition of Black Madonnas.
• Wonders and Preservation: Several unexplained phenomena are attributed to the statue: it shows no signs of woodworm or wear despite its age, dust does not settle on the Virgin's feet, and historical accounts claim that during past attempts to relocate it, the statue became impossibly heavy to move.

Religious and Historical Significance

The complex serves as both a place of prayer and a symbol of historical and community unity:

• Vows of the City of Biella: Over the centuries, the community of Biella turned to the Madonna of Oropa to survive plagues (such as the 17th-century outbreak). To this day, solemn walking pilgrimages are carried out to fulfill these ancient civic vows.
• Centennial Coronation: Since 1620, every 100 years (most recently held in 2021, postponed from 2020), the solemn Coronation of the Black Madonna is celebrated using tiaras adorned with gems donated by the faithful.
• The Sacred Mountain (Sacro Monte): Located just outside the main sanctuary complex, it consists of 12 chapels dedicated to the life of the Virgin Mary, constructed between the 17th and 18th centuries to offer pilgrims a meditative journey through visual art.

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003, the Sacro Monte is set within a nature reserve west of the main Sanctuary.

Construction began at the behest of the Capuchin friar Fedele da San Germano to coincide with the first solemn coronation of the Black Madonna in 1620. In keeping with Counter-Reformation doctrine, the project aimed to create a "stone and terracotta Bible" to tell the story of the Virgin Mary to illiterate pilgrims using realistic, three-dimensional scenes. Work continued into the early 18th century, involving prominent architects (including Bernardo Antonio Vittone) and notable sculptors of life-sized painted terracotta figures (such as the D'Enrico brothers).

The itinerary is designed as an uphill journey of purification through the forest. Although the original plan envisioned 20 chapels, 12 dedicated to Mary's life were completed, alongside 7 additional chapels lining the approach road that depict biblical events and saints.

Buon cammino!

Photos camminodioropa.it media gallery

LOOK FOR EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN IN NATURE