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The Elvo valley is an ancient cultural landscape. Geologically formed in the Quaternary period, it appeared as a layer of sand and river pebbles about 40-ft high. In pre-Roman times the “Vittimuli” tribe, a local population of Celtic origin, discovered the presence of alluvial gold in this area.
After the Roman conquest, mining became systematic and an open-cast mine brought to light about 270 tonnes of gold.

In this particular environment, a unique habitat has developed in the course of the centuries; it offers peculiar climate and botanical features, while today is thoroughly protected inside a natural reserve.

The large heaps of pebbles discarded during the gold extraction, dramatically hampered any type of cultivation: the land has thus remained unchanged over time.

The ecomuseum is mainly focused on Vergogno, a hamlet of the municipality of Zubiena, where gold was mined by the “Vittimuli”. Since 1987, a local association of gold prospectors has worked to recover this ancient tradition.
Nearby the museum, there’s the mountain village of Bagneri (where a local association has recovered an old carpenter facility and relaunched wood craftsmanship), Trappa di Sordevolo (built in the second half of the XVIII century), the workshops of Netro, and the forge of Mongrando (where visitors can discover the pre-industrial past of this very area).

In 2001, a network of local associations and museums was established with the intention of creating an Ecomuseum of Biella territory, managed by the Province Administration of Piedmont; the new facility will include, Candelo, inside the Ricetto, a splendid medieval fortified complex almost entirely preserved, where some cellars have been recovered to tell the story of the local vineyards and winemaking.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)