A town that was born around the year 1000 and that is not far from Cherasco. The medieval settlement on the hill of Zizzola is recognized, although not many remains of the castle and the walls that the French and Spanish destroyed. Many Baroque buildings make a visit to this town enjoyable, which also owes its notoriety to the Slow Food movement that is born right in the streets of the center. Some points of interest include the Fallen Square for Freedom, The Traverse Palace, the Church of St. Clare, and the beautiful and bustling Via Vittorio Emanuele.

The city of Bra is also appreciated and loved for its gastronomic excellence (Bra sausage, for example) and, above all, for an event that overwhelms it: Cheese. In September every two years, Bra becomes the cheese capital of the world! I’m going to talk about it a little later.

From Bra, going towards Alba, you cross this little municipality. Small but very well known internationally thanks to the University of Gastronomic Sciences, founded in 2004 on the idea of Carlin Petrini, founder of Slow Food. Next to the University, you will also find the Wine Bank, which resides in the 19th-century cellars of the Castle. The Castle is part of the complex rebuilt by King Charles Albert, who made it his summer home.

A walk through these streets is advisable!

Canale is an important agricultural center with grapes, wine, fruits, and peaches! Founded in the early 1200s, it had an orthogonal plant that is still recognized. The town hall square is home to the Baroque church of St. John or the Black Beats. At the side of the church, a tower of the ‘300. Imposing the castle of Malabaila, rebuilt in the sixteenth century.

The town is vibrant, and on Sundays, its shops open and its pedestrian street with the dehors of the bars, offers a pleasant stopover. I recommend a visit to the cheese shop of Bono In and of course to the wine shop of Roero!

If you are in this area at the end of July, you will have to participate in one of the evenings of the Peach Fair. An event that sees in the square the whole country and where you will find joy, good food, and of course good wine!

La visita di Cherasco è dovuta e necessaria. Questo bellissimo borgo ha un centro storico assolutamente da godere. Testimonianze del periodo medievale si incrociano con il barocco piemontese. E’ una “signora città”.

La storia di Napoleone incrocia Cherasco quando il re Vittorio Amadeo III firmava l’armistizio di Cherasco. Venivano cedute alla Francia la Savoia e la contea di Nizza. I cittadini di Cherasco eressero l’albero della Libertà anche se non furono mai dimenticate le requisizioni di beni materiali e le tante vittime civili.

Oggi Cherasco è famosa per un prodotto famoso anche in Francia, le lumache. L’elicicoltura qui ha una antica tradizione. A Cherasco c’è la sede dell’Associazione nazione elicicoltori. A Cherasco le lumache sono allevate all’aria aperta, su terreno, ed alimentate con vegetali freschi. Per chi ama questo piatto qui trova l’eccellenza!

Ma Cherasco è anche famosa per il suo Mercato dell’Antiquariato, ormai diventato punto di riferimento per migliaia di curiosi e di estimatori. Qui trovate il calendario.

This small town is visible from afar, with its imposing castle dominating it. Around the village, vines of Barbera, Bonarda, Nebbiolo, and Arneis

Govone Castle, rebuilt by the Solaro in the 17th century, rests on medieval fortifications. It was a lavish holiday home. The castle can be visited by reservation.

Govone had a beautiful intuition a few years ago, becoming the country of Santa Claus during the first days of December. In 2018 it attracted more than 200,000 visitors, with 100 exhibitors that year after year increase in number and as an offer. If you have children or if you still love to feel like a little child, you should definitely not miss it!

Guarene is a strange common… Spread. You often find it difficult to indicate addresses to those who want to visit it. Yes, because Guarene has high, beautiful, imposing parts like its castle and many “low” features where you can walk through vineyards or “pear madernassa” trees.

Guarene is a small town with a view of the Tanaro Valley and some buildings to note, such as the church of St. Michael, that is already spoken of in 1300, or the church of the Holy Annunziata that was built towards the end of the 1600s.

For this country, I recommend the Path of the Acino and a scenic link between cultivated countryside and vineyards that goes from Guarene to Castagnito and back. It’s a walk of about one h 30, almost all on dirt roads. You’ll pass by Guarene Castle, now a luxury hotel, and find yourself strolling along the ridge with fantastic scenery every season. Recommended!

Magliano is a municipality where the ancient Roman town Mallianum was located. It was located along the road that connected and still connects Asti with Alba. The town first stood on the flat part, but then its core moved to the hill where even today stands imposing the Palace of the Bishops overlooks the hill. The current Castle has been rebuilt and seems the only one left of a set of castles or houses robust, maybe seven.

It is interesting to visit the Castle and inside the chalk culture museum. It documents the particular construction technique of many farmhouses in the Asti region. Chalk panels between the ceiling beams are also very elaborate decorations.

The village is a very relaxed dining spot during the hot summer evenings and is chosen by the locals also for outdoor dining.