i) ITINERARY 9 - PATH OF SAINT CHARLES - From the Sanctuary of Oropa to Sordevolo

MAP OF THE ITINERARY

Note: To view the attached GPS map, install Google Earth (on both phones and computers) or an application that can manage maps and GPS tracks.

Itinerary Description
The itinerary runs on the slopes of Valle Oropa and Valle Elvo, at about halfway up the mountain, going through several different villages and hamlets.
From the "gates" (main entrance) of the Sanctuary of Oropa, the road goes toward Biella until it gets to the beginning of the D1 path (also called the Path of the Virgin). The comfortable path descends toward the flatland amid woods and pastures leading to the village of Favaro. The summer pastures of San Bartolomeo (the oldest religious place of the Oropa valley).
After going through Favaro on the main road, turn towards Pollone and near the last houses take the path for Parco Burcina and its peak. The descent on Pollone is spectacular, inside the park that is famous for its flowers. We reach the village of Pollone near the little church of San Rocco (at the junction with the Frassati footpath). Then we cross Pollone in direction of the hill where S. Barnabas stands. We continue on the C28 path that rises and falls before it reaches Sordevolo, first in the hamlet of Verdobbio and then at the "concentric".

POINTS OF INTEREST
Santuario di Oropa
Chiesa della Madonna di Oropa
Chiesa Nuova
Riserva Speciale del Sacro Monte di Oropa (patrimonio Mondiale UNESCO)
Giardino Botanico
Funivie e Parco Avventura
Alpeggio di San Bartolomeo
Parco della Burcina
Valle dei Rododendri
Alberi secolari
Pollone
Sentiero Frassati
Sordevolo

TECHNICAL NOTES
LEGS: the entire distance is recommended in 1 leg (km 14,4)
DIFFERENCE IN ELEVATION: lowest altitude of the itinerary, 600 m a.s.l.; highest, 1200 m a.s.l. See the map
DURATION: from 3 to 6 hours
TYPE OF PATH: Excursion - MAINLY DIRT ROADS

FACILITIES
www.atl.biella.it/dove-dormire

PUBLIC TRANSPORT
www.atapspa.it
800.912.716
e-mail

FOR MORE DETAILS
www.santuariodioropa.it
www.riservepedemontaneterredacqua.it/parco.burcina/index.php
http://prolocodipollone.com/
www.sentierifrassati.org/piemonte.html
www.passionedicristo.org/

TOURIST INFORMATION
ATL Biella – Azienda Turistica Locale www.atl.biella.it
Piazza V. Veneto, 3 - 13900 Biella
Tel. 015/351128 - Fax 015/34612 Numero verde 800 811 800