Alba Historic Center

Alba is the lively capital of the Langhe, a handsome medieval town in southern Piedmont celebrated worldwide for its prized white truffle and as the home of the confectionery giant Ferrero, the maker of Nutella. Its compact historic centre is a pleasure to explore on foot, centred on Piazza Risorgimento, locally called Piazza Duomo, and the surrounding grid of arcaded streets where surviving brick towers recall a medieval skyline once so dense it earned Alba the nickname the town of a hundred towers. The Cathedral of San Lorenzo, with its Gothic brickwork and intricately inlaid wooden choir stalls, anchors the square, while Via Vittorio Emanuele, known to locals as Via Maestra, is the main spine of shops, historic confectioners and cafes. Beneath the streets lie Roman and medieval remains, and small museums tell the story of the area's archaeology and natural history. Alba is above all a town for the senses: its pastry shops, wine bars and food shops sell the chocolate, hazelnuts, cheeses and wines of the surrounding hills, and from early October to late November the renowned International White Truffle Fair fills the centre with a truffle market, tastings and events that draw gourmets from across Europe. A relaxed visit, browsing the centre and sampling its food, makes a half day. The town is busiest and most exciting during the autumn fair and on market days; spring and summer are quieter and pleasant for strolling. Alba is reached by train from Turin via Bra or by car in about an hour, and serves as the ideal base for touring the Barolo and Barbaresco wine villages of the UNESCO-listed Langhe landscape.