There are so many things to see in the Langhe region, from the most beautiful villages, like Barolo, to the inevitable towns, like Alba, that you cannot get bored in. We'd like to give you some advice on those things to see in the Langhe and Roero that you might not expect. Among the less famous villages in the Langhe we will point you to:
1. Alba
The capital of Langhe, wine, and hazelnuts. Walking in the center of this small town you can smell the scent of chocolate from the nearby international industry Ferrero: So, I suggest that you go to visit Duomo in Piazza Risorgimento. You may also go to Vin Cafè for an aperitif in Via Vittorio Emanuele, the major street in the historic center where you can also do some good shopping. Then you should have a great dinner at Enoclub in Piazza Savona, and, after a five minute drive by car, you can go to sleep at Locanda del Pilone on the hills. Another thing to do in Alba is participate at the truffle fair, which has international fame. It lasts from the first to the third Sunday of October and it’s dedicated to the white truffle, or truffle of Alba, an exclusive specialty of Italian cuisine.
2. Palio d'Asti
Held on the first Sunday of September, this bareback horse race commemorates a victorious battle against Alba during the Middle Ages, and draws over a quarter of a million spectators from surrounding villages. Cheeky Alba answers with a donkey race on the first Sunday in October.
3. Fiera del Tartufo
October's precious white-truffle crop is bought, sold, and celebrated at this annual festival, held every weekend from mid-October to mid-November. Come and watch princely sums exchanged and sample autumn's bounty. Book accommodation, and restaurants well ahead.
4. Torino
Beautiful baroque squares and fabulous food make Turin worthy of more than a pitstop, says Rodney Bolt.
What image does the word 'Turin' conjure up for you?
Fiat factories? Rowdy football supporters?
For years, I skimmed past it on my way to holidays elsewhere. Until, one day, I took a stop and, to my surprise, discovered a baroque gem.
Elegantly set on the River Po with the Alps as a backdrop, Turin has an illustrious, centuries-old pedigree, as the seat of the royal house of Savoy.
When the new Kingdom of Italy was formed out of a motley collection of states exactly 150 years ago, Turin became its first capital. Centuries of riches and political posturing have created show-off palazzos, imposing churches, and graceful piazzas. Turin is quite as chic as Milan - but not nearly as uppity. City boulevards are edged with shadowy porticos that add a touch of mystery to the mood. The streets that lead off them break here and there into scuttles of little cobbled alleys, lined with enticing shops. Through a gap between stuccoed façades, you may suddenly glimpse snow-capped Alps, or the quirky Mole Antonelliana, once the tallest brick building in the world.
5. Barolo
Barolo is dominated by another castle, the Marchesi Falletti castle, built during the 13th century, that is totally worth visiting. A particular mention goes to the historic library of the castle, that was reorganized by the important Italian intellectual and writer, Silvio Pellico. Now the castle is home of the Ethnographical and Oenological Museum of Barolo, “WiMu“, composed of twenty-five rooms made to let you explore the history of this wine.
6. Cuneo
The city is the regional capital of the province of Cuneo, not far from Turin in the northern part of Italy. The city is special with its Alpine views and thermal water. The city is surrounded by two rivers – Gesso and Stura.
Cuneo is not very popular among foreign tourists. And should be! The city’s centre is like a small jewellery box full of shining diamonds and sapphires. In Cuneo, you find all the amazing things with which Italy enchants the foreigner, and even more. The sweetest gelato, narrow colourful streets, windows adorned with flowers and religious festivals, Cuneo has everything to offer you! In addition to its natural beauty, the area offers many other attractions. Its positions made it an important point of contact between peoples and cultures. The most important routes of Medieval pilgrimage ran across it: the Way of San Giacomo and Via Francigena. Important families have fought for its control through the ages.
Its artistic and cultural heritage bears witness to centuries of history: castles and towers that have become an integral part of the landscape, villas and princely residences, and wonderful abbeys, like the Staffarda.
7. Roero & Monferrato
Monferrato is an area in Northwest Italy still not as well known by tourists, however, its world famous wines, soft rolling hills, breathtaking sunsets, historical heritage and the recent award from UNESCO are beginning to spark travellers’ curiosity.From the 10th century up to 1708 the area of Monferrato was an independent marquis and its small capital Casale Monferrato, with its stories, art and traditions, is now all to be discovered. If you are looking for your next trip’s destination, and you’re interested in culture and relaxing among nature and vineyards, then Monferrato is the right place. If one UNESCO site is not enough, in Monferrato you find a second and older one: the Sacred Mount of Crea. The Sacred Mountains, established in Italy in the late 1400’s, were born to offer a safer alternative to pilgrims willing to travel to the Holy Land. Over time, the mounts became a meditative journey for the faithful, madeup of an ensemble of chapels and votive altars representing Jesus’ Life and Passion.Visiting Monferrato’s Natural Parks is the best way to enjoy the surroundings, discovering local flora and fauna and recharging your batteries in the lovely green spaces.There are three main parks in Monferrato:
The Protected Areas of Po (Vercelli and Alessandria), along the Po River near Casale Monferrato, includes 6 different natural areas and is the largest and richest in biodiversity. The best way to visit it is to start from one of the 5 visitor centres and then walk or bike on the cycling trails.
Aree Protette Po Vercellese-Alessandrino
The Paleontological Park of Asti is interesting not only for its natural beauty, but for all the fossil finds dating more than 10,000 years ago, now kept in the Paleontological Museum of Asti. It includes 3 protected areas: Rocchetta Tanaro Natural Park, Andona Valley Nature Reserve, Valle Botto, Val Grande and the Natural Reserve of Val Sarmassa.
The Park of the Protected Areas of the Piemontese Apennines is the wildest one of the parks: it is rich in gorges and streams forming natural pools and is perfect for trekking and admiring the Ligurian sea from the Apennine mountains.
While reading this, you would have noticed we didn’t mention wine, the lead character of our hills. With famous red wines like Barbera, Dolcetto, Grignolino, Ruché or Bonarda and white wines like Cortese, Piedmont Chardonnay or Asti Spumante, it will be easy to taste and enjoy the many great wines of Monferrato. In fact, in this area there are more than 200 wineries and producers, many wine shops, wine bars and retailers. The important thing is to choose a local wine and trust the barman…DOC and DOCG quality labels are, of course, a good choice!
8.Castello di Uviglie
The first certain traces about the birth of the castle can be found in a document dated 14th June 1322. In this text the marquis of Monferrato Teodoro I granted the Pocaparte family a license “ hedificandi Castrum Ivilie” to build their own fortified residence. The construction of the round tower and the wall supporting the roof garden adjacent the present park goes back to that period.
In the XVI century, in order to redeem lands and castles pawned by his father Teodoro, Giovanni II Paleologo inflicted new taxes and started a legal dispute which affected mostly the Pocaparte family. The legal dispute went on for more than a century and it ended unfavoraubly for the Pocaparte family in 1493. Consequently Antonio di Giovanni was the first of the Pocapartes to give up his estates of Uviglie. In November 1493 he gave all his feudal possessions to Maria di Serbia mother and guardian of Gian Giacomo Palelogo and of Guglielmo IX Marquis of Monferrato in exchange of the promise of a dowry of at least 1000 florins for his children, sons and daughters.
During World War II the corpse of Father Giuseppe Allamano was moved to the castle to protect it from the bombs on the city of Turin. Besides, the castle over the centuries has hosted Saint Luigi Gonzaga who was with his father Ferdinando in Monferrato appointed governor of the dukedom. Saint Giovanni Bosco and also the nephews of the Ethiopian emperor Negus stayed in the Uviglie castle while the Missionaries of the Consolata were established there and played an active part in the Italian colonies of East Africa.
The property with its ancient park because of its architectural importance and its artistic heritage, it is under the Royal Law Decree of June 1939 and it belongs today to the Società Semplice Castello d’Uviglie.
9.Market in Costigliole D'Asti.
This is one of the few markets that are still held on Sunday mornings. In fact the municipality of Costigliole d’Asti is composed of numerous villages and the market has always been the meeting place for the scattered inhabitants of the Asti town.
It once occupied the entire concentric dominated by the imposing castle, whereas today there are only a dozen stands hosted in Piazza Luigi Medici del Vascello, formerly San Rocco
The area where it’s held doesn’t make it particularly characteristic: beyond the fish and anchovies stand run by Aldo, who sells his products in various other markets of the Langhe and Roero area, you’ll find the usual assortment of stalls selling clothing, shoes, and household items.
There’s also a seeds and bulbs stand and a cheese stand belonging to the C. Bianca Agriculture company owned by the Cavallero family from Loazzolo. Its rich assortment includes various seasoned products made with goat, cow and sheep milk.
The heart of the market is represented by a traveling rotisserie that offers specialties such as Langhe chicken and the fruit and vegetables stalls including Silvano’s from San Martino Alfieri.
Don’t forget that the Motta di Costigliole village is considered “the vegetable garden of Low Monferrato” and that its square pepper, a form of cultivation that unfortunately is slowly being abandoned in favor of floriculture, is a real delight, well known by all gourmets.
10. Fiat Car Museum in Turin
The Fiat Historical Centre contains the brand museum and the company archive. It is based in Turin, in a fine Art Nouveau building in the area where the company's first manufacturing workshops were set up. Its displays do not focus only on cars: Fiat aeroplanes, trains, tractors, bicycles, washing machines, refrigerators, war technology and even ship engines are all on show, as well as its legendary cars.
Among the most striking items is the 3½ HP, the first car produced in 1899 by the Turin-based company, and the Mephistopheles, unforgettable both for its name and for the world speed record it set in 1924. Other memorable exhibits include the first tractor produced by the company, the Fiat 702 of 1919, the 18BL truck, used by the Italian army in the First World War, the Littorina, the pride of Italian rail transport between the two World Wars, and the G91 fighter-bomber reconnaissance plane.
11. FontanaFredda Cellars
History
1858 The Fontanafredda estate was bought by Vittorio Emanuele II as a gift to his mistress Rosa Vercellana, also known as "La bela Rosin". Later, it was handed down to their children, Maria Vittoria and Emanuele Alberto, Count of Mirafiori and Fontanafredda. 1866 The king bought the first vineyard of Barolo, reason for which the name “Tenimenti di Barolo e Fontanafredda” was used. 1870 Wine-making in the cellars of Fontanafredda begins, although the first mentioning of a Barolo Fontanafredda dates back to 1867.
1878
Count Emanuele Alberto of Mirafiori begins his adventure, with over 300 hectares (741 acres) cultivated directly by salaried, specialized workers (a unique thing at the time).
1894
Emanuele Alberto di Mirafiori dies after having made Barolo a legend. He was the one who turned Fontanafredda into an actual village with a church and a school. He was succeeded by his second-born Gastone.
1918
Under the leadership of Director Cav. Mollo, the business reached its maximum commercial and productive expansion, with 200 employees and over 40 families residing within the estate.
1928
Phylloxera, a disease which afflicts the roots and plants, reached the Langhe and destroyed the vineyards.
1929 The Great Economic Depression, which began in the U.S.A., hindered the business. 1931 Because of the many difficulties, the estate and the cellar were sold to Monte dei Paschi di Siena Bank for 1,050,500 lire, whereas the brand was sold to the Gancia family for 100,000 lire. 2009 After 70 years, Fontanafredda is once again in the hands of Piedmont natives. 2017 Fontanafredda is nominated “European Winery of the Year” by the prestigious American magazine Wine Enthusiast.
12.The SerraLunga D'Alba Castle
Along the Barolo roads, stands a castle that overlooks the hills: the Serralunga d’Alba Castle. Built between 1340 and 1357, according to somewhat unusual shapes in Italy, but typical of fourteenth century French Donjon, it was one of the castles belonging to the Falletti family: merchants and bankers originating in Asti. Over the centuries, the Falletti, represented the most important dynasty in the Langa, and obtained jurisdiction of over 50 fiefs or municipalities. Their history was interwoven with the castle’s for over 600 years. In 1864, after the death of the last descendent, the philanthropist Giulia Falletti Colbert, the manor house became property of the Opera Pia Barolo, and was then acquired and restored by the Italian State in 1949. The Palacium Originally the building was made up of the square tower, built after the barbarian invasions, and forms part of a system of watch towers located throughout the area. The castle itself was built later. The visit includes three large 80 sq m overlapping halls, the last of which (where the walkway is found) offers a panoramic view of the hills and the surrounding towns.
13.The Chesee in Bra
This Alpine cow’s milk cheese takes its name from the town of Bra, the birthplace of the Slow Food movement. The region’s cheesemaking traditions come from the nomadic herdsmen who once came across the valleys with their animals to the plains. Bra Duro is a more aged version of Bra Tenero. Duro means rough or rugged in Italian, which refers to the rind. It is aged 5-6 months, developing slightly piquant flavors with a lingering finish of nuts, herbs, and hay. Eat as a table cheese or shave over pasta and vegetables.
The international cheese fair in Bra has been growing ever since the first edition was held back in 1994, becoming a must for the Region and lovers of dairy products in general.
Cheese was created and organized by Slow Food, the international non-profit association based in Bra; an association that is committed to the enhancement and protection of food products while respecting the environment, culture, tradition and producers. Cheese also allows visitors to discover the dairy chain with the aim of educating proper nutrition to both children and adults, and promoting a more correct and conscious behavior on the consumers’ part towards the environment and society in terms of sustainability
14.The Ciabot
The Roero is rich of little buildings, in the local dialect called “ciabòt”.
Born as simple shelters made of grass or corn, they later became buildings in wood and bricks.
These buildings were born because of the big distances of the fields from the houses, the need to gather the harvest and protect it from the thieves, and also a kind of demonstration of the economic wellness of the owners. The “ciabòt” have bizarre shapes, strange decorations, all that could make them noticeable.
15. Saluzzo
The russet-brick town of Saluzzo—a flourishing medieval center and later seat of a Renaissance ducal court—is a well-preserved gem with narrow, winding streets, frescoed houses, Gothic churches, and elegant Renaissance palaces. The older and more interesting part of the town hugs a hilltop in the Po Valley and is crowned by La Castiglia, a 13th-century castle that has served as a prison since the 1820s. It is not open to the public.
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