# Biella

> Italian comune

**Wikidata**: [Q18021](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18021)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biella)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/biella

## Summary

Biella is a city and comune in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, serving as the capital of the Province of Biella. Located at coordinates 45.566388888889°N, 8.0533333333333°E at an elevation of 420 metres above sea level, Biella is home to approximately 42,619 residents (as of 2023) and covers an area of 46.69 square kilometres. The city is known for its textile industry heritage, Alpine setting, and recognition as a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2019.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Piedmont region, northern Italy; capital of Province of Biella
- **Coordinates**: 45.566388888889°N, 8.0533333333333°E
- **Elevation**: 420 metres above sea level
- **Area**: 46.69 km² (measured October 9, 2011)
- **Population**: 42,619 (January 1, 2023, preferred value); 44,324 (January 1, 2018); 44,616 (January 1, 2017); 46,000 (2007)
- **Postal Code**: 13900
- **Telephone Area Code**: 015
- **Licence Plate Code**: BI
- **Timezone**: UTC+01:00 (standard time); UTC+02:00 (daylight saving time)
- **Official Name**: Biella
- **Demonym**: biellesi (masculine plural)
- **Patron Saint**: Saint Stephen
- **ISTAT Code**: 096004
- **Italian Cadastre Code**: A859
- **VIAF IDs**: 138367736; 7644172729686806290003; 41166169096890511210
- **GND ID**: 4080402-1
- **OpenStreetMap Relation ID**: 45293
- **Seismic Classification**: 3
- **Member of**: UNESCO Creative Cities Network (City of Crafts and Folk Art, since 2019)
- **Awards**: Gold Medal of Military Valour; Alpine Town of the Year (2021)
- **Twinned Cities**: Arequipa (Peru), Tourcoing (France), Weihai (China), Kiryū (Japan)

## FAQs

**What type of administrative entity is Biella?**
Biella is a comune of Italy and functions as a city, serving as the capital of the Province of Biella in the Piedmont region of northern Italy.

**What is the population of Biella?**
According to the most recent preferred data, Biella had a population of 42,619 as of January 1, 2023. Previous counts include 44,324 (2018) and 44,616 (2017).

**What are the geographical boundaries of Biella?**
Biella spans from 45.5368345°N (southernmost) to 45.6456342°N (northernmost), and from 7.9351286°E (westernmost) to 8.0962365°E (easternmost).

**Which towns share borders with Biella?**
Biella borders 16 municipalities: Andorno Micca, Candelo, Fontainemore, Gaglianico, Occhieppo Inferiore, Occhieppo Superiore, Pettinengo, Ponderano, Pralungo, Ronco Biellese, Sagliano Micca, Campiglia Cervo, Sordevolo, Tollegno, Zumaglia, Pollone, and Vigliano Biellese.

**What international recognitions has Biella received?**
Biella is a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Crafts and Folk Art (since 2019) and was named Alpine Town of the Year in 2021. It has also received the Gold Medal of Military Valour.

**What languages is Biella documented in?**
Biella has Wikipedia articles in 85 language variants, including Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and many others.

**What are Biella's twin cities?**
Biella has four sister cities: Arequipa (Peru), Tourcoing (France), Weihai (China), and Kiryū (Japan).

**What is Biella's historical significance?**
Biella is documented in historical encyclopedias including the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica and Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (4th edition, 1885–1890).

## Why It Matters

Biella matters as a historic center of textile manufacturing in Italy, a tradition that shaped its economic identity and urban development. The city's inclusion in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2019 recognizes its ongoing commitment to crafts and folk art traditions, making it a cultural destination for understanding Italian artisanal heritage. Its position as the capital of Province of Biella gives it administrative significance in the Piedmont region.

The city's Alpine setting at 420 metres elevation, surrounded by mountains, makes it a gateway to outdoor recreation in the Italian Alps while maintaining accessible connections to the Po Valley. Biella's recognition as Alpine Town of the Year 2021 highlights its successful integration of urban life with Alpine environmental and cultural values.

Its multiple twin city relationships with Arequipa, Tourcoing, Weihai, and Kiryū demonstrate Biella's international engagement across four continents, fostering cultural and economic exchanges. The city's diverse identifier network—spanning VIAF, GND, Geonames, MusicBrainz, and numerous national library systems—reflects its documented presence in global knowledge infrastructures.

## Notable For

- Capital of Province of Biella
- UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art (since 2019)
- Alpine Town of the Year (2021)
- Gold Medal of Military Valour recipient
- Historic textile industry center
- Home to Palasport Biella sports venue
- 85 Wikipedia language editions
- Birthplace and death location category designations
- Four international sister city relationships
- Located at the foothills of the Alps with extensive border municipalities

## Body

### Geography and Boundaries

Biella is situated in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy at coordinates 45.566388888889°N, 8.0533333333333°E. The city sits at an elevation of 420 metres above sea level, positioned at the transition between the Alpine foothills and the Po Valley plain. The municipal territory spans 46.69 square kilometres, with boundaries extending to 45.6456342°N (northernmost point), 45.5368345°E (southernmost point), 8.0962365°E (easternmost point), and 7.9351286°E (westernmost point).

The municipality shares borders with 16 neighboring towns: Andorno Micca, Candelo, Fontainemore, Gaglianico, Occhieppo Inferiore, Occhieppo Superiore, Pettinengo, Ponderano, Pralungo, Ronco Biellese, Sagliano Micca, Campiglia Cervo, Sordevolo, Tollegno, Zumaglia, Pollone, and Vigliano Biellese. This extensive border network reflects Biella's central position within the provincial territory.

### Administrative Structure

Biella serves as the capital of the Province of Biella, giving it significant administrative importance in the region. The city is classified as a comune of Italy and functions as a city (large human settlement). The municipal administration is headed by the mayor of Biella.

The city has the following administrative codes: ISTAT ID 096004, Italian cadastre code A859, and licence plate code BI. The telephone area code is 015, and the postal code is 13900. Biella falls under seismic classification 3 according to Italian civil protection standards.

### Population and Demographics

Biella's population has shown a gradual decline over recent decades. The preferred population figure is 42,619 residents as of January 1, 2023. Historical population data includes 44,324 (January 1, 2018), 44,616 (January 1, 2017), and 46,000 (2007). The demonym for residents is biellesi (masculine plural).

The city maintains demographic balance records through ISTAT, with detailed population tracking documented in official demographic balance publications for 2017 and 2018.

### International Recognition and Awards

Biella has received notable recognition for its cultural and historical significance. The city is a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Crafts and Folk Art, with membership starting in 2019. This recognition acknowledges Biella's traditional crafts heritage and ongoing commitment to folk art preservation.

In 2021, Biella was named Alpine Town of the Year, recognizing its successful integration of urban development with Alpine environmental and cultural values. The city has also been awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valour for historical military achievements.

### International Relations

Biella maintains sister city relationships with four cities across four continents: Arequipa (Peru), Tourcoing (France), Weihai (China), and Kiryū (Japan). These twinning relationships foster cultural, economic, and educational exchanges between Biella and its international partners.

### Cultural Heritage and Institutions

The patron saint of Biella is Saint Stephen. The city is documented in several historical encyclopedias, including the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica and Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (4th edition, 1885–1890). Category pages exist on Wikipedia for births and deaths in Biella, reflecting the city's historical significance as a population centre.

Biella is home to Palasport Biella, a sports venue that hosts basketball and other athletic events. The city has a museum digital place ID (86641) and is included in the World Historical Gazetteer (place ID 12880584).

### Digital and Knowledge Infrastructure

Biella has extensive digital presence with official websites at https://www.comune.biella.it and https://www.visit.biella.it/ (the latter in Italian). The city is documented across numerous international knowledge bases and authority files, including:

- VIAF: 138367736; 7644172729686806290003; 41166169096890511210
- GND: 4080402-1
- Geonames: 6539582
- Freebase: /m/042yvt
- OpenStreetMap Relation: 45293
- MusicBrainz Area ID: 48552d72-6f88-4203-91fe-cb21798894d6
- Library of Congress Authority ID: n80001383
- Multiple national library authority records

The native label pronunciation is ˈbjɛlla, with audio available on Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia coverage includes 85 language editions, demonstrating extensive international documentation.

### Transportation and Connectivity

Biella is accessible via the A24 motorway (connection to Rome) and the A4 Turin-Milan corridor. The city has a regional airport (Biella-Cerrione Airport, code BIR) and is connected to the Italian railway network. The local dialing code is 015, and the postal code is 13900.

### Historical Context

Biella's history is closely tied to the textile industry, which became the economic backbone of the region from the medieval period through the industrial era. The city developed as a centre for wool and silk production, benefiting from the water resources of the nearby rivers and the skill of local artisans.

The city has been documented in historical sources since at least the medieval period, with references in encyclopedic works from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica contains a dedicated article on Biella, reflecting its historical importance.

### Natural Environment

Biella's location at 420 metres elevation places it at the interface between the Alpine foothills and the plains. The surrounding mountains provide recreational opportunities including hiking, skiing, and mountaineering. The city's elevation and position create a distinct Alpine microclimate.

The seismic classification of 3 indicates moderate seismic activity, consistent with the broader Alpine region geological characteristics. The territory's geological features have historically influenced settlement patterns and economic activities.

### Economic Profile

Historically, Biella's economy has been dominated by textile manufacturing, particularly wool and silk production. The industry benefited from the region's water resources, skilled workforce, and strategic position between Milan and Turin. The city has developed a reputation for high-quality textiles and artisanal craftsmanship, which contributed to its UNESCO Creative Cities Network recognition.

The modern economy includes manufacturing, services, and tourism, with the city leveraging its cultural heritage and Alpine setting to attract visitors. The Palasport Biella venue hosts sporting events and concerts, contributing to local entertainment and tourism sectors.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.comune.biella.it/web/vivere-biella/elenco-siti-collegati-biella)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. [Source](https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/biella)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Czech National Authority Database
6. MusicBrainz
7. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html)
8. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2017. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2017/index3.html)
9. [Source](https://demo.istat.it/?l=it)
10. GeoNames
11. [Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011. Italian National Institute of Statistics](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224)
12. Wiki Loves Monuments Italia
13. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
14. [Source](https://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo/Biella;3877426.html)
15. Seismic classification in Italy
16. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)