Museo del Tesoro di Oropa (Biella) - Piemonte Feel

Museums

Museo del Tesoro di Oropa (Biella)

Category: Ancient art

Biella

Inaugurated in May 2003, the new Museo del Tesoro (Treasure Museum) in Oropa has gold, jewels, liturgical paraments, and historical mementoes which the Sanctuary had housed for centuries. In the first two rooms, along with the archeological findings, historic-artistic mementoes have been collected: the altarpiece by Lanino from the 16th century, votive gift from the Citta di Biella, and the portraits of the first miraculously saved Sa and Vallet remembered with canonical form. Here, next to watercolor landscapes by the landscape artist, Pietro Bagetti, and the work by Lorenzo Delleani, four older, votive works are displayed along with drawings, plus the drawings by the architects who designed and worked in Oropa: Arduzzi, Gallo, Juvarra, and Galletti. In this room, the “misura istoriato” (“illustrated measurement”) of the statue of the Madonna and several of the most ancient printed texts about the Sanctuary are found, beginning with the “Breve Relatione”” from 1621. The third room houses the most precious articles from Oropa’s liturgical wardrobe: from the blue velvet chasuble which tradition demands be created with the cloak of the blessed Amedeo IX Duke of Savoy, to the cope in gros de Tours with embroidery of the Madonna; from the mitre to the stolon to the Episcopal arms of Monsignor Giuseppe. In the fourth room, instead, the jewels of the sacred statue (crowns, stellar halo, vest, hanging tuft, medallions, etc.), the gold tiara covered in gems and stones, crowns, chalices, monstrances, votive hearts many of which were donated by the Reali Sabaudi (Royal Savoys), and the great gold-plated silver monstrance with 800 precious gems donated by Maria Giovanna Battista di Savoy Nemour. Also, in this room, as according to Monsignor Losana, the silver-plated altarpiece has found a spot which was once in the ancient “Eusebian” votive chapel where the statue of the Madonna d’Oropa is kept.

Information

Via Santuario di Oropa, 480 - 13813 Località Oropa, Biella
Tel. +39.015.25551320/1200 - Fax: +39.015.25551219
E-mail: info@santuariodioropa.it
www.santuariodioropa.it