Baraggia between Biella and Cossato

The Baraggia area is one of the most important examples of the Padan moorlands area. Its configuration is that of a plateau affected by flood waters, with a great number of botanical species. Very extensive in the beginning, it is today reduced to a few islets due to the intense reclamation works which favoured the cultivation of rice (in some municipalities in fact, the rice paddies produce rice awarded with the DOP designation (for Baraggia Biellese and Vercellese Rice).
In the more northern part of the area, the rotational farming system is the outstanding characteristic with the cultivation of meadows and cereals. Further south, after a narrow strip of corn fields, there is intensive rice cultivation.

The towns are characterised by fortifications often built by local lords, and villages of ancient foundations like Candelo, have perfectly conserved the Ricetto (medieval housing system) structures.

Biella is the main urban centre composed of Biella Piano (set in the plain) and Biella Piazzo (in a dominant position). The Piazzo, found on the ancient medieval road leading to the Oropa Valley, became an independent entity in the course of the 13th century, and is delimited by walls and furnished with water through a canal built to deviate the waters of the Oropa stream. It is where the Municipality was established and became the chosen site for the construction of the homes of the nobility. Since the 17th century, the Piano has affirmed itself as an artisanal and commercial centre.

To be highlighted is the fact that from the natural Baragge Reserve, jutting on a cliff, one can admire the western Alpine arch from Monviso to Mount Rosa and the Ecomuseum of Biellese, which works on the territory in cooperation with the Ecomuseum Cossatese and Baragge in Cossato, City of Art Pistoletto Foundation (Biella) and Viticultural Ecomuseum of Candelo.