Alba has always been a gateway through the hills to Liguria. The famous truffle city is, in fact, capital of the zone known as the Langhe. The historical center sits inside the Roman walls while Via Maestra links Piazza Savona, symbol of the 1800's, to the old core at Piazza Risorgimento and the 15th century cathedral.
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Discover Italy North Italy Regions Guide to Turin & Piemonte Piemonte Itineraries Guide to Alba
Discover Italy North Italy Regions Guide to Turin & Piemonte Piemonte Itineraries Guide to Alba
Guide to Alba
The whole series of churches and medieval houses sits tightly in a triangle formed by the Rivers Tanaro and Cherasca.
It is here Piemonte's only real 'pasta asciutta' can be found and visitors should also look out for the food market near the River Tanaro.
Alba could once boast over 100 towers and this is still remembered in the annual 'Giostra delle 100 Torri e Palio degli Asini' on the first Sunday of October.
The Giostra or joust between noble families was transformed into a donkey race on 10 August 1275 following the destruction of the vineyards by the hated inhabitants of Asti.
Offended, the Albesi held a Palio run with donekys not horses to show their respect, or lack of it. The Palio is now held on the first Sunday in October.
The famous truffle festival only hints at the culinary delights of the town and on the restaurant menus you should find pigeon roasts, quail risotto and pear semifreddo ice creams.
To avoid confusion, be aware that a number of towns in the lower Langhe share 'Alba' in their names. For example, Monforte d'Alba, Canale d'Alba, Serralunga d'Alba and Diano d'Alba. Diano d'Alba was always a rival to Alba for control of the River Tanaro.
The territory is home of the impressive 'Confraternita del Tartufo e dei Vini d'Alba' and the 'Enoteca Regionale' in Grinzane Castle. There is no better place to test your sommelier skills in the whole of the province.
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Our articles about Piemonte below.
• Piemonte Recipes
• pear timballo dessert pie recipe • bonet di amaretti alla piemontese • bagna cauda recipe • crumiri biscuits • white chocolate cake • paniscia rice recipe • castagnole carnival sweets • risotto with barbera wine
Piemonte Food and Wine
• alba wine city • white truffles from alba • alba truffle festival • asti spumante wine • slow food foundation • barbera nizza wine • barolo corkscrew museum • upper po valley food route • novarese and verbano gastronomy • biella cheese and wine route • grapes of cuneo • international salone del gusto • quintessenza • piemonte food history • bra cheese festival • turin coffee bars • bettelmatt cheese • optima roero • official truffle charter • barge rice festival • nebbiolo wine • lake maggiore food tour • white truffles from alba • best piemonte cheeses • wine route tortona hills
Piemonte Itineraries
• white truffle route in lower piemonte • nizza monferrato • langa astigiana • stresa on lake maggiore • acqui terme • made in granda • guide to turin • guide to alba • biella • ivrea orange throwing carnival • valleys of cuneo • lesa on lake maggiore • where to ski in piemonte • guide to lake maggiore • piemonte faith routes • paths of moscato d'asti wine • the source of the river po • lake maggiore day trips • alto monferrato wine route • gavi to strevi wine route • mountain bike routes • on the trail of literary giants in turin