FUTURE IS NATURE
At the centre of the camping site stands a prefabricated wooden structure that is now the seat of “The Pilgrim’s House”. Future is Nature, is indeed located along Cammino di Oropa (the Oropa Trail), an itinerary leading to http://www.santuariodioropa.it/ curated by the associationassociazione Movimento Lento based in Roppolo – another town in the Biella area near Lake Viverone. “This whole area is a bet. We are in a barycentric region located between Milan, which is an hour and a half away, and Turin, an hour away. This has never been recognised as an area of tourist interest, but in the coming years we could do something to promote it – an investment that no one has ever made before” says Francesco. At the centre of the camping site stands a prefabricated wooden structure that is now the seat of “The Pilgrim’s House”. Future is Nature, is indeed located along Cammino di Oropa (the Oropa Trail), an itinerary leading to Santuario di Oropa curated by the associationassociazione Movimento Lento based in Roppolo – another town in the Biella area near Lake Viverone. “This whole area is a bet. We are in a barycentric region located between Milan, which is an hour and a half away, and Turin, an hour away. This has never been recognised as an area of tourist interest, but in the coming years we could do something to promote it – an investment that no one has ever made before” says Francesco.
The Oropa Trail
The Oropa Trail (Cammino di Oropa) is a route divided into four short stages (from 14 to 16 km each), which leads from Santhià (Vercelli), and from the rice fields of Vercelli, to the Biella Alps. It is also suitable for non-expert walkers and offers the opportunity to visit truly magical places, such as the monastic community of Bose, and then reach the Sanctuary of Oropa (as well as, if one wants to, explore its park and botanical garden).
It is also a low-environmental-impact itinerary, as it starts from Santhià railway station and then, from Oropa, a city bus takes the walkers back to Biella. Alberto Conte – the President of the Movimento Lento association – wrote a guide to the Trail, published by Terre di Mezzo, which also organises the trade fair dedicated to sustainable lifestyles “Fa’ la cosa giusta!” (Do the right thing!). Nature is located along stage CO02V – Variante di Sala Biellese is a town that played a key role during the Italian Resistance , to the fascist regime. It was here that the headquarters of the clandestine radio station Radio Libertà, were moved. Visitors can also take a tour of the Museum of Resistance and visit for free Rifugio degli Asinelli, the only Italian seat of the international non-profit organisation The Donkey Sanctuary.
Managing the camping site is a great opportunity for Future is Nature who can find an audience base and make available special offers and packages combined with events in the area (stay + game). “The playful part is an experiment that the public will need time to understand. Although initially we had no idea of how to manage a camping site, we realised that the two activities are, in fact, complementary” emphasizes Francesco.
Therefore, in addition to the two and a half hectares of the camping area, Francesco asked Sala Biellese Town Council to also include in the lease two and a half hectares of woods – a perfect area to host even the wildest games and offer alternative accommodation. : in the beech wood, Francesco installed four hanging tents, while a more isolated area hosts “the bubble”, a see-through real bedroom, where guests can sleep surrounded by nature, watching the stars. “All you see now was a jungle just a year and a half ago. We had to clean up a lot of stuff, but it was worth it” – he explains – A clean forest always reminds of the elf world. A perfect space to play in. Even as adults”.
