Camburzano

Access

The municipality is well connected to Biella by the provincial road and enjoys essential services, while the main access routes are easy and convenient for those travelling by car or public transport from the city. 

Introduction

Camburzano is a small municipality in Piedmont, located in the province of Biella, a few kilometres from the provincial capital, and nestled between gentle hills that mark the border between the plain and the first mountain spurs of the Serra. The settlement is developed on a terrace to the right of the Elvo stream, a point of connection between the area's agricultural vitality and the presence of natural elements typical of the pre-alpine area; the place name refers, according to the most widespread interpretations, to Campus Burcianus, 'camp of the Roman centurion Burcius', where Roman garrisons engaged in the search for gold in the nearby Bessa area were already active in ancient times. During the Middle Ages, the territory came under the control of the bishops of Vercelli, later becoming a possession of the Avogadros of Cerrione and, from the 14th century, of the Savoys. It is a community where rural traditions, the remains of ancient fortifications and evocative religious buildings are interwoven with a popular culture that is still heartfelt and alive in local tales and celebrations.

Description

The Camburzano area is distinguished by its soft hills, crossed by watercourses such as the Elvo, Vobbia and Omata streams, tributaries flowing down from Graglia and Muzzano, and cloaked in meadows, vegetable gardens and small woods that delimit varied landscapes evoking the transition from the Biellese plain to the surrounding mountains. The built-up area is divided between the new and commercial part, developed along the road, and the older part that preserves traces of identity and monuments such as the Medieval Tower, the only legacy of the castle destroyed in 1400, and the 13th-century Parish Church of San Martino, embellished with wooden sculptures and 18th-century furnishings. The Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie contains a valuable 17th-century wall painting, a testimony to local devotion and art.
Camburzano's history is punctuated by changes of sovereignty and a tenacious agricultural life. Today, the economy is mainly based on agriculture and handicrafts, with some small-scale industrial activities and services aimed mainly at the community. The town has always been known for the production of vegetables and fruit favoured by the excellent fertile land, and thanks to its proximity to Biella, part of the population is employed in the province's lively economic fabric.
In terms of culture, Camburzano preserves traditions and beliefs that find expression in the numerous religious festivities, such as the patronal festival dedicated to San Martino, and in the local festivals where typical products and rural identity are celebrated. There is no shortage of simple dishes such as polenta, cured meats and traditional sweets, and tales that are interwoven with oral memory are still alive, such as the legend of the "circle of witches on the pian dl'Asnera", linked to local folklore and studied by Virginia Majoli-Faccio.
In terms of hiking and tourism, Camburzano offers landscapes that lend themselves to pleasant walks along dirt tracks and ancient mule tracks that climb the hills towards Graglia, Muzzano and the Serra. The itineraries allow you to discover rural environments, historical remains and small panoramic views of the Biellese plain, ideal for those seeking a dimension of tranquillity in contact with nature. The hiking activity is also linked to the enhancement of the area promoted by the Piedmont Region, which is committed to offering outdoor experiences and protecting the local road network, which facilitates access to these areas far from the flow of mass tourism.

Information

Area:  square km
Altitude: 420m
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