Vast plains and moors spotted sparsely with trees and small wooded valleys. The upper plains of Biella, Vercelli and Novara feature these landscapes, usually formed by vast uplands, with altitudes ranging from 150 to 340m. The Baragge offer spectacular views in summer and autumn: the grass provides a golden base that is cut with pink (heather) and brown (eagle fern) patches.
The best-known excursion into the Baraggia of Biella, Baraggione di Candelo-Cossato, offers the opportunity to visit Ricetto di Candelo, a small fortified nucleus of late medieval buildings. There are numerous interesting elements in the area: the historical centre of Masserano; the 11-15th century Castle and 13th Cluniac monastery in Castelletto Cervo; the Castle of Rovasenda; the Romanesque Church of Sant’Eusebio dei Pecurilli in Roasio; the Romanesque Sanctuary of Madonna di Rado in Gattinara; and the centre of Romagnano Sesia.
These unusual high plains are the remains of the ancient and vast pastures created from accumulated ice river and river deposits (between 750,000 and 135,000 years ago, mid-Pleistocene Era) following the erosion of the mountainous and hill area by rivers and glaciers. This becomes particularly clear near Baraggione di Candelo-Cossato and Baraggia di Piano Rosa, as they have the most ancient, and therefore, “highest” deposits (40-50m, reaching even 80 m height over the actual plain).
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