Delleani, born in 1840 in Pollone and trained at the Accademia Albertina in Turin, initially devoted himself to traditional historical painting, but became famous for his depictions of landscapes around Biella, combined with the devotional subject of processions.
The painter moves effortlessly from small panels to large canvases, such as the 1895 work Pilgrimage to Oropa, which occupies the entire wall of the room named after the artist, on the main floor in Mazzetti’s.
Delleani carefully depicts the majestic mountain landscape, emphasising a historic and deeply felt popular tradition: the Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Oropa, a procession dedicated to the rediscovery of traditions that begins from Fontainemore in Aosta Valley.
The pilgrims make their way towards the Sanctuary, accompanied by the mist and the morning light. The painter depicts them from behind, almost life-size, immersed in the greenery amongst arnica and rhododendron plants; so the viewer feels drawn into the grandeur of the landscape and he feels part of popular devotion.
In Oropa, there are three kinds of pilgrimage:
- the annual pilgrimage is a tradition that began in 1599
- the most famous pilgrimage, which takes place every five years, starts from Fontainemore in the Aosta Valley
- The last one takes place every hundred years and involves the changing of the crown on the Statue of the Black Virgin Mary. The tradition dates back to 1620 and the last celebration took place in 2021.
The Sanctuary of Oropa is much more than a place of worship: it is an unparalleled spiritual, cultural and natural experience. Whether you are a believer or simply seeking beauty and tranquillity, visiting Oropa means immersing yourself in a sacred place rich in history, art and enchanting landscapes.
The Marian sanctuary is dedicated to Black Virgin Mary, a wooden statue created between the late 13th and early 14th centuries, which has become an object of growing veneration over time. Carved from light-coloured wood but blackened by time—or, according to others, by divine will—the Virgin holds the Child on her lap and a globe in her hand: it is the symbol of salvation. Those who look upon her feel she is looking back at them. Those who pray to her are heard.
The sanctuary is situated a few kilometres north of Biella, in the hamlet of Oropa, at an altitude of 1,150 metres, within a natural amphitheatre of mountains that heightens the sense of spirituality. It is a perfect example of a ‘sacred landscape’ which includes, in addition to Sacro Monte, the original church built on the site of an ancient shrine and the present-day sanctuary, which is equipped with various facilities for visitors.
Tradition traces the foundation of the sanctuary back to the IV century, when St Eusebius, the first bishop of Vercelli, is said to have hidden a statue of Virgin Mary—a symbol of hope—under a rock to save it from persecution.
A sanctuary was built around the ancient basilica, which dates back to the early XVII century, serving as a hospice for pilgrims. During the plague of the XVII century, the city of Biella made a vow to the Virgin of Oropa and remained unspoilted. To this day, the town holds an annual solemn procession to Oropa in fulfilment of this vow. In 1620, the first solemn coronation of the Statue of the Black Virgin Mary took place, organised by the Capuchin friar Fedele from San Germano. Subsequent coronations were held every hundred years.
The Sacred Mount of Oropa, to the west of the sanctuary, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.
Between the XVII and XVIII centuries, thanks to the work of great Savoyard architects such as Guarino Guarini and Filippo Juvarra, the complex took on monumental proportions, including squares, cloisters and religious buildings. The architectural journey culminates with the Upper Basilica, consecrated in 1960, which stands alongside the older basilica, preserving the continuity between tradition and modernity.
The complex includes 19 chapels, 12 of which are dedicated to the life of Virgin Mary and the others to episodes from the Christian faith.
