The Parco della Burcina is a park – garden located in Pollone near the Prealps. And it the ideal place for the lovers of nature but also for those who want to relax themselves and to forget the busy city life.
The hill Burcina was bought in the middle of 1800s by Giovanni Piacenza (wool industrialist of Pollone) who had a passion for gardening and nature. These were the conditions that led him to transform the hill in a park like the first gardens born in England in 1700.
So he began to plant the first plants at the bottom of the hill, including the gigantic redwoods placed in front of the lake (1848) and he built the first infrastructures (ponds, paths, roads).
The son, Felice, continued for more than fifty years his father’s work he realized: the valley of rhododendrons, a spectacle of color during springtime that attract the attention of many people every year, and he continued to track roads, trails, and numerous exotic plants.
In addition, the park is characterized by a great variety of species that can be found as: the oaks or the multitude of beech trees; but inside the park there are also many species of maples, birches, handkerchief tree (native plant of to the Middle East characterized by heart-shaped leaves and white flowers). Especially beautiful in autumn are the tulip trees but also the vegetation typical of the Mediterranean such as the cork oak, olive, myrtle, strawberry tree and lavender.
The blooms are followed from March to April with the blooming of daffodils, the delicate Japanese cherry trees bloom, rhododendrons and hydrangeas that bloom in July in a beautiful blue.
Inside the park there are also conifers originating of California and North America: the redwoods that overcome the 1000 years.
In the reserve are allowed dogs kept on a leash, and also on Tuesdays and Fridays are permitted to collect mushrooms only with the appropriate regional card.
HOW TO ARRIVE?
From the motorway A4 TO-MI, you exit at Santhià from Turin and you exit at Carisio from Milan, after you follow the signs to get in Biella. The park is about 10 km from the center, the main entrance is located near Piazza San Rocco. Thursdays from 9 a.m to 18 p.m and Saturdays from 9 a.m to 11 p.m is allowed entry with vehicles carrying disabled or elderly people.