Full of passion and authenticity
At the foot of the Mountains
Italy’s best kept “secret escape”
Piemonte translates into “at the foot of the mountains”. So full of beauty and authenticity that Unesco declared it World Heritage. No mass tourism here but true Italian life. Piemonte is covered with winding little roads crossing the quilted rural landscape. The views are amazing, wherever you go. Rising above all are the white peaks of the Alps.
Maybe skip busy Toscany for a change and enjoy this beautiful and tranquil region? No need to book restaurants months in advance, and yes, you can sit down at a bar for a coffee or an aperitivo. They are in no hurry to get your the bill. Italians understand the essence of life, enjoying it! Our region has many things to offer. Yours to discover.
Montegrosso d’Asti
Charming hilltop castle village
Our village Montegrosso d’Asti is part of the Monferrato wine area, close to popular cities like Alba and Asti. The village has two parts, Montegrosso Alto (high) and Montegrosso Basso (low).
We are up in the hills close to Montegrosso Alto. This part of Montegrosso has a fortified castle, a small but beautiful dome church with bell tower, a village square with parking (and convenient electric car charging) and Ristorante Centrale. Wander the old streets, enjoy the views. Nothing but authenticity here.
Only 5 minutes from us is Montegrosso Basso, located down in the valley with bars, restaurants, take out pizza, the square (tuesdays is market), a farmacia, shops and supermarkets. Convenience close by.
Neighbouring villages
Tiny excursions for a lazy day
The region Piemonte is famous for slow food, wine, white truffle, hazelnut and hilltop villages & castles. For those looking for tiny excursions close by, here is a list of charming neighbouring villages.
- Costigliole d’Asti
- Agliano Terme
- Isola d’Asti – Villa
- Castagnole delle Lanze
- Calosso
Do cafè e dolci at a local bar and drink an aperitivo on a village terrace. Go for lunch or dinner where the Italians go, they know the best restaurants. Most of all, enjoy life’s simple pleasures.
City Trips
Discover Italian city life, history, shops and gastronomy
Asti
Capital of our province with a well preserved historical city centre including a 1000 year old Duomo. Full of nice shops and on Saturdays a big market. Also home of the Palio di Asti, a famous horse race held once every year in September, the oldest horse race in Italy.
Alba
Situated between the hills covered with vineyards is a city of the senses, of smell and taste. It is the area of the “trifulau” the truffle seekers, a mystical world of nocturnal searches for the famous white truffle. The annual Palio of Alba (on donkeys) takes place at the beginning of October.
Torino
Once the first capital of united Italy, but now the capital of Piedmont and an undiscovered gem. City of Fiat, Juventus and fantastic architecture with beautiful baroque palaces, squares & arcades and Italy’s most elegant bars and cafes. A royal town to be discovered!
Genova
Genova is a vibrant city located on the beautiful Ligurian coast. Enclosed by mountains and sea views, the city is an old port town with winding streets and cozy “pubs” with the oldest and largest medieval city center in Europe. Its shopping street Via San Lorenzo takes you to the beautifully restored old port of Porto Antico where there is always a lot to see and do. You can eat delicious fish there.
Milano
Capital of Lombardia, Mecca for design & fashion and the city of shopaholics. The most expensive brands are represented here. Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele II should be visited as well as the Duomo. And for football lovers, this is of course the Mecca of all the football stadiums in the world, the San Siro.
Savona
A lovely seaside resort, situated on the Ligurian Riviera and the Gulf of Genoa, with surrounding beachside villages. Savona has a ferry connection to Corsica. Important sights are the Brandale and the Leon Pancaldo Tower, the Priamar Palace, the Cathedral from the 17th century and beaches and the sea!
Charming Villages
Wander the small streets where time stood still
Nizza Monferrato
The historic city centre consists of beautiful buildings with many arcades, squares etc. Nice little shops for every-ones taste. There are nice restaurants and ice cream parlours of which ‘Mimmo’ is probably the best. In the second weekend of June there is the gastronomic festival “Monferrato in tavola”.
Canelli
Visit the city of famous wine makers, the charming city of Canelli. Here you can wander through the small streets with boutique shops and eat in small Italian cafe’s. You will find the major wine houses and their magnificent ‘cathedrals’ full of wine, which were dug underground beneath the city hundreds of years ago.
Acqui Terme
One of the oldest thermal spa resorts in Italy; the ancient Romans came here for cures. In the historical centre with bars and restaurants stands the Bollente (water that rises continuously at 78 oC). The village still has some roman elements on display and in the center is the Piazza Duomo with the big Cathedral from 1067.
Neive
Neive is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. The historic center climbs up the hill and has retained its medieval character. Steep streets lead you past beautiful houses and monuments. There are plenty of restaurants and good Enoteca’s to taste wine. Neive’s beautiful villas indicate a rich past.
La Morra
From La Morra the views over the Nebbiolo vineyards are breathtaking! Everything here revolves around wine. Enjoy the many beautiful views or one of the many wine tastings. Both the Castello Grinzame Cavour (a castle from the 12th century and one of the most important in Italy) and the Castello Falletti are home to fantastic wine cellars where some of the best wines of Italy are sold.
Barolo
Barolo, situated in the middle of the Langhe, overlooks rolling hills covered in vineyards. Most visitors are attracted by the world-famous wine, but those who look further will discover a charming village with picturesque streets and architecture. It is not without reason that the village of Barolo has recently been included on the list of the most beautiful old villages in Italy.
Antiques markets
Hunting for those vintage treasures
Piemonte is home to some serious antiques markets. Undoubtedly Cherasco and Casale Monferrato are the most famous, but treasures can be found on many other markets too.
- Asti & Acqui Terme – monthly every 4th Sunday
- Nizza Monferrato – monthly every 3rd Sunday
- Casale Monferrato – monthly every 2nd Sunday
- Alessandria – monthly every 1st Sunday
Combine an antiques market with a tour of the local town. All of them have beautiful centri storici (historical city centers) worth a visit. Andiamo!
