Perched on the hill to the west of Biella, the medieval hamlet of Piazzo was founded in 1160 by the bishop of Vercelli Uguccione, with the intention of building a secure residence. As a result of the grants of privileges, Piazzo quickly became populated, becoming the centre of trades and of the cultural and administrative evolution of the city.
Over the following centuries, the residences of the great noble dynasties of Biella flourished at Piazzo: Scaglia Palace, Princes Dal Pozzo from Cisterna Palace, Gromo of Ternengo Palace, Lamarmora Palace, Ferrero Palace, Gromo Losa of Prarolo Palace.
The medieval urban layout, with its low arcades and narrow cobblestone streets, and the extension of the settlement on the edge of the hill, are still intact, thanks in part to the gradual relocation of the administrative centre to Piano in the 17th century.
Piazza Cisterna is the heart of the hamlet, while the south side opens onto a smaller, more closed-off square, overlooked by the thirteenth-century Chiesa di San Giacomo and the Gromo of Ternengo Palace.
Biella Piazzo is rich in scenic spots: one can look out from the bridge on Via Avogadro, from the De Genova public gardens and those of Palazzo Ferrero to admire the city, from Piazza Cucco for a glimpse toward the surrounding hills including the Burcina Park, recognizable in May thanks to the colourful bloom of the rhododendron valley.
