Overview
Between the municipalities of Pollone and Biella lies one of the best-preserved and best-valued natural treasures of the entire Piedmont region: the 'Felice Piacenza' Burcina Park Nature Reserve, more commonly known as the Burcina Park, born from the desire of the wealthy Piacenza family to transform a Biellese hillside into a lush and charming romantic garden.
The wool industrialist Giovanni Piacenza initiated the project in the mid-19th century by reclaiming a 'bric', a term meaning hilltop in Piedmontese dialect. Giovanni Piacenza began planting several varieties of plant species, including wellingtonias, cedars and some sequoias, which, after almost two hundred years, today show amazing dimensions. Giovanni's descendants, Felice and Enzo Piacenza, continued the project until it became a wonderful nature reserve, now owned by the municipality.
April and May are the busiest months for photographers and visitors from all over Italy: it is in spring; in fact; that the colourful rhododendrons bloom, clustered in their thousands in a picturesque basin in the southern part of the park.
Riserva naturale del Parco Burcina Felice Piacenza, 13814 Pollone BI, Italia
