Palazzo La Marmora

With its 15th-century octagonal tower and imposing pastel-coloured neoclassical façade, Palazzo La Marmora forms an integral part of the urban fabric of the ancient hamlet of Piazzo in Biella, appearing to be suspended halfway between the foothills of the Alps and the wide, open space of the lowlands.

The Palazzo has been the home of the Marquises of Ferrero della Marmora, now the Mori Ubaldini degli Alberti La Marmora family, for over eight hundred years. This complex, living space reflects the intimate, everyday aspects of domestic life which have always been inextricably linked with the many vicissitudes of past historical events.

It is a fine example of a House Museum that has preserved its unique architectonic character across the centuries, as well as original furnishings, paintings and archives that testify to the varying fortunes of the many generations of the owner’s family, and different aspects of the history, art and customs of the respective eras.

Palazzo La Marmora enables the visitor to glide between unexpected perspectives and surprising vistas. Once past the courtyard and the Oval Entrance, you will be struck by the play of light and beautiful colours in the Winter Garden overlooking the Renaissance garden, with the double-columned portico to which tall windows were added in the late 19th century. The Winter Garden boats a magnificent bicentennial specimen of Ficus repens which spans an entire wall as it spreads branches that are fashioned into festoons and bells along the arched curves of the vault in an interplay of light, perspective and silhouettes that change with the hours and seasons. The garden is revealed through cast iron windows, somehow managing to appear as intimate and reserved as a cloister, yet at the same stretching as far as the eye can see over the city and the Po valley. The view from the top of the small square tower above the centre of the Palazzo offers a 360-degree panorama of simply breathtaking scenery.

Every fresco, item of furniture and furnishing in the monumental rooms has a story to tell about the personalities who have lived in the house: from Sebastiano Ferrero, General of Finances of the Duchy of Milan in 1500, to Ambassador Filippo Ferrero della Marmora who sealed royal marriages between Piedmont and France in 1700; from Raffaella, mother of some of the La Marmora generals from the period of the Risorgimento, to the descendants of Leon Battista Alberti, who arrived here in 1899; and from Counts Cavazza whose family were of Bolognese origin to Guglielmo Alberti, the 20th century humanist, intellectual, writer, music and film critic…

The ‘Grande Galleria’ on the first floor was opened to the public for the first time in June 2021. This former living room of Casa La Marmora until 1945 was restored to its original beauty and houses collections of paintings and furniture. The Grand Gallery is adjacent to the Ballroom, which displays trompe-l’oeil frescoes painted by the Galliari brothers, and the Billiard Room.
At the initiative of the family, Palazzo La Marmora has been open to the public for the last thirty years. It is the perfect setting for weddings, private and corporate events and offers tourist accommodation in the apartments of the Le Scuderie residence. The Palazzo can be visited by groups, individuals or students all year round and is a stunning location for an exclusive film set.

The history of Palazzo La Marmora
Palazzo La Marmora has always been a significant component of the village of Piazzo in Biella, where the first dwellings date all the way back to 1160. At that time, settlements in the town of Biella Piano were already sizeable, and the Bishops of Vercelli issued an edict offering privileges to all those willing to move to the moraine hills above.
According to a legend passed down by the Ferrero della Marmora family, a branch of the Acciaiuoli family of Florence took up residence in Biella under the name of Ferrero around 1100, and subsequent to a decree issued by Frederick Barbarossa in 1165 they were granted the right to decorate their coat of arms and armor with the double-headed eagle of the Empire, in addition to the lions already present. Adhering solely to verified records and archives, the documents concerning the origins of the Ferrero families at Piazzo indicate their arrival some three centuries later, however, in the form of land registry deeds registered by Besso Ferrero in 1450, 1459 and 1466.

A historical Palazzo in Biella
Palazzo La Marmora is a complex and consists of a group of buildings erected in different eras and containing five courtyards and a garden, which came into the possession of the current owners Mori Ubaldini degli Alberti La Marmora by inheritance; it is a historical residence and a National Monument, subject to the norms of the 1908 decree registered in 1943.

Recent studies have been able to document that the Palazzo evolved over the generations through a series of acquisitions of buildings that were only later integrated into the Ferrero family estate. While some nuclei of the property can be recognised as dating back to the second half of the 14th century, the property altered significantly over the course of a number of interventions, additions and modifications that can be traced back between the 1600s and the second half of the 1700s.

It was only with the arrival of Celestino Ferrero (1754 – 1805) and the renovations he commissioned by architect Filippo Castelli (1738 – 1808) from Turin that a desire to unify and rationalise the buildings was born. The most conspicuous signs resulting from these interventions are the imposing neoclassical façade on Corso del Piazzo, the main forecourt, the Oval Entrance and the Staircase, while the most valuable addition was the Ballroom on the upper floor, decorated with frescoes from the Galliari brothers’ workshop.

Another distinctive feature is the Masserano or Sebastiano Ferrero Tower. Thirty-two metres high and octagonal in shape, it was built in the second half of the 15th century on the initiative of Sebastiano Ferrero, one of the most influential noblemen of Biella of his time, who held the position of both Treasurer of the Duchy of Savoy and Head of Finance of the Duchy of Milan.

During the 1800s, the Ferrero della Marmora family performed a number of renovations to improve existing buildings or add new features. The entire façade of the Palazzo was restored between 2015 and 2016.

Weddings, galas,corporate meetings and special events in Biella
With thirty years’ experience in organizing events and always at the forefront of innovative ideas, Palazzo La Marmora perfectly combines charm, exclusivity and elegance with guaranteed professionalism and flexibility. The following areas are available for your special event: five frescoed reception rooms containing antique furnishings; the Winter Garden, a verdant, spacious, heated greenhouse connected to the gardens; the furnished and heated spaces in the Stables; a large terrace garden overlooking the city, which can be arranged in a multiple of different ways according to requirements.

These areas can accommodate up to 300 people and are available 12 months a year. We also offer service rooms, including a large kitchen equipped with cold storage, and the reception rooms are arranged in such a way as to facilitate the activities of the various suppliers (catering, floral decorations, technical services, etc.).

Palazzo La Marmora works with a team of selected professionals, but not on an exclusive basis, which signifies that external collaborations can be arranged. Access to the Palazzo is possible for commercial vehicles, and there are parking facilities in the inner courtyards. There is a public car park nearby: “Borgo del Piazzo” offers 134 free indoor parking spaces as well as many outdoor spots.

Le Scurderie apartments
The Palazzo also contains rental apartments which overlook its five courtyards, offering visitors an oasis of peace and tranquility in the ancient heart of Biella. ‘Lo Stalliere’ and ‘Il Cocchiere’ can accommodate 2 to 4 people, while ‘Il Fienile’ can accommodate up to 5. All flats have a kitchenette with a refrigerator and a basic supply of crockery and cutlery. Bed linen and towels are provided and there is a weekly linen change and cleaning service. The residences have a reserved car entrance, and it is possible to park in the internal courtyard.

Location for film set
The Palazzo can be used for indoor or outdoor filming, as well as in the grounds. There is access for heavy equipment.

Guided Tours
Guided tours take place on Sunday afternoons from June to October by prior appointment and on the occasion of local and national annual events (such as ADSI Day and similar events), or all year round by appointment. Information and special events can be found on our website.