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Natural Monuments

Bessa Gold Mining Archaeological Site

Natural Monuments

Bessa Gold Mining Archaeological Site

Highlight • Natural Monument

Bessa Gold Mining Archaeological Site

Recommended by 116 mountain bikers out of 119

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Location: Zubiena, Biella, Piedmont, Italy

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Best Mountain Biking Routes to Bessa Gold Mining Archaeological Site

3.7

(9)

150

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1. Bastia Tower – Roch Basarünt loop from Viverone

47.9km

04:23

860m

Expert mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

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4.7

(6)

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2. Bastia Tower – Roch Basarünt loop from Biella San Paolo

51.9km

03:51

670m

Intermediate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

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Intermediate

4.8

(13)

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3. Bridge over the Elvo loop from Biella San Paolo

38.4km

02:42

320m

Intermediate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

Tips

The_ElyG

September 4, 2023

The area of the Bessa Nature Reserve is approximately 8 kilometers long, with an average width of one kilometre.
It is located between Biella and Ivrea, included in the municipalities of Borriana, Cerrione, Mongrando and Zubiena, on the orographic right of the Elvo stream. It is part of the Serra moraine, considered the largest in Europe.

A lunar appearance, with large mounds placed together like desert dunes, made up of stones of various sizes. Between one pile and another, curtains of often impenetrable plants and bushes. This is the aspect that one perceives when entering the Bessa Nature Reserve for the first time, established in 1985. But the charm of Bessa also lies in its history.
One thing is now certain. This entire large territory, almost ten square kilometers, has been entirely modified in its appearance by the work of thousands of men.
These were the Ictimuli - or Vittimuli - who inhabited a large part of the Biella area over two thousand years ago. Led and exploited by the Romans between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC. they transformed the Bessa into one of the largest open-pit gold mines in the world.
Traces of this immense work remain in the mounds, erected by piling up the stones discarded during the excavation.

Source: atl.biella.it/localita-dettaglio/-/d/riserva-speciale-della-bes-1

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Sescot

May 5, 2025

Must do, at least once, interesting place.

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Luca

August 18, 2020

Ciapei della Bessa

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Elevation 410 m

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Saturday 25 October

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Max wind speed: 4.0 km/h

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Location: Zubiena, Biella, Piedmont, Italy

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Bessa Gold Mining Archaeological Site

1. Bastia Tower – Roch Basarünt loop from Viverone

2. Bastia Tower – Roch Basarünt loop from Biella San Paolo

3. Bridge over the Elvo loop from Biella San Paolo

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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