Piemont Tour 2019

Since we are mostly cycling on the height of the ridges, we can always enjoy great views and panoramas

We are comfortably on our way and suddenly the landscape opens up, giving a view of the almost endless vineyards of this region

Piazza Martiri di Alessandria , Palazzo Comunale , Torre del Campanòn Palazzo Comunale, an imposing building dating back to 1353, which from its origins served as a meeting place for the heads of government of the area. The main attraction is the old bell tower of the Town Hall, called by the people of Nice "el Campanon" the Great Bell, which has had various functions over the centuries: defence tower, bell tower and headquarters. Nizza Monferrato was the seat of the "Repubblica partigiana dell'Alto Monferrato", one of the partisan republics, which was completely liberated from German occupiers and Mussolini's RSI army.

something different like umbrellas :-))

view over the area and the valley from our accommodation, an Agricultura farm near Canelli

from Canelli to Alba we are on the new stage through the vineyards of Barbaresco and truffle area Around Alba

shortly before the start of our 60 km long journey towards Alba on the way through the wine growing areas and hazelnut cultivation The vineyards a little closer

Neive, an Italian municipality with about 3500 inhabitants in the province of Cuneo, Piedmont, is a member of the Association of the most beautiful places in Italy. Neive has been inhabited since the Neolithic Age, about 5000 years ago. The rulers changed in Neive des öfftern, Romans, Sarmatians, Longobards, Charlemagne, Hungarians, Saracens, Otto I of Saxony and many other nobles. Maria Vittoria, last Countess of Neive, married the second son of the first King of Italy Vittorio Emanuele II. She was also Queen of Spain for a short time. With the House of Savoy, Neive shared the destiny of the Kingdom until the Constitution of the Italian Republic.

Church of the Archbishopric of San Michele It is a beautiful 17th century church in baroque style, built with rustic bricks. A beautiful bell tower full of decorations and baroque friezes complete the building. Inside there are many beautiful works of art from the 17th and 18th century, unfortunately it was not possible to visit it!

Church of the Archbishopric of San Michele It is a beautiful 17th century church in baroque style, built with rustic bricks. A beautiful bell tower full of decorations and baroque friezes complete the building. Inside there are many beautiful works of art from the 17th and 18th century, unfortunately it was not possible to visit it!

Parish church St. Peter and Paul This parish church has been in existence since the 12th century and was rebuilt in the 18th century, with extensions and unfinished facades dating from the 19th century, which makes the exterior of the church not very attractive, so only pictures of the interior. Inside there are works of art from the eighteenth century, among which there are various processional statues, altarpieces, an inlaid choral altar and a magnificent organ.

on a walk through the village, view from the village over the valley and various discoveries

a monument commemorating the fallen of the two world wars, a praying child at whose feet a rifle and a helmet lie, both meant as signs of war.

We continue from Neive through the vineyards to Barbaresco, one of the most beautiful villages in the world. municipality with about 650 inhabitants. Here different wines are cultivated Barbaresco is a wine of the region which, like Barolo, is produced from the Nebbiolo grape variety and is considered "the little brother" of Barolo. The Barbaresco is also called "wine of the queen". Nebbiolo grapes ripen late and are often harvested only in October, when the fog (la nebbia) moves into the vineyards.

From afar you can see the symbol of the village of Barbaresco, the medieval walled tower, the largest and most massive in Piedmont. For a long time a ruin, the tower can be visited today after careful restoration, it is one of the main tourist attractions of the area. With a height of 36 metres and 9 floors entirely made of bricks, the tower was built around the year 1000 to defend the city against the Saracens and is a witness to Barbaresco's medieval past.

In the stairwell on the way to the viewing platform view of the village centre of Barbaresco

From the top the view goes over the Tanaro valley, which is 200 meters lower, up to the Alps. For a long time a ruin, the tower can be visited today after careful restoration, it is one of the most important tourist attractions of the area.

For the farewell from Barbaresco a picture of the parish church San Giovanni Battista Just before the year one thousand there was a church in Barbaresco, approximately on this spot behind the castle, the present building was built in 1728 and opened for worship in 1730. In baroque style and in solid construction it was further embellished and extended over the years, in 1756 it was equipped with a bell tower. The church was not accessible to the public.