Since you’re already here…
You might as well make a holiday out of it.
Here’s Filippo’s and Sofie’s favourites
🍷 Wine Underground Cathedrals
Visit the famous Underground Cathedrals in Canelli, about 45 min away. They’re enormous historic wine cellars where you can take a tour
Filippo’s favourite is Contratto and Sofie’s is Coppo, but Bosca or Gancia are also good.
🍇 Barolo & the Langhe
Head to Barolo, La Morra or Alba, roughly 1–1.5 hours away. Spectacular vineyards, medieval villages and some of Italy’s best food according to Sofie.
Filippo suggests to try truffles, hazelnuts, and fassona beef tartare. They are world’s best here.
🧗 Hikes and Lakes
Head to Finale Ligure for some of Europe’s best seaside limestone climbing, or explore Val Formazza (1.5-2h drive) in the Alps for beautiful mountain scenery and hikes. Filippo’s suggestion is going to Riale in Formazza, and hike all the way to 3A hut and back.
Sofie prefers to stop on the way in Stresa and visit the Borromeo Islands on the Maggiore lake for an aperitif (1h drive).
🏖️ Seaside and tan
Mediterranean beach within 1h distance!
Head to east Liguria for clear water, colourful seaside villages, focaccia and pesto. Sofie’s favourites are Bonassola and Levanto (just before Cinque Terre), and Filippo’s favourite are Framura and San Fruttuoso. In San Fruttuoso we recommend diving to sea the christ of the abyss.
We also suggest trying the west coast, especially Varigotti. Olives are the best here.
🏛️ Torino – old capital
About 1h15m away, Torino was home to the Italian royal family and the first capital of unified Italy. Think grand palaces, beautiful squares, elegant cafés and a little French-style sophistication.
Torino is the home of gianduiotti chocolates, incredible pastries and historic chocolate shops.
Basically, Paris with better food and fewer French pretending to be important.
Filippo’s suggestion include the Farmacia del Cambio for pastries, the Egyptian museum (biggest after Cairo) and the nearby Venaria Palace.
🍝 Asti wine festival
September is festival season in Asti, about 40 minutes away!
There’s the Festival delle Sagre on Saturday the 11th and sunday the 12th, where local villages come together to cook traditional food, and the Douja d’Or, a big celebration of Piedmontese wine.
Filippo’s big brother has been going to this festival for a decade, and still going. So must be good.
⛷️ Iconic giants
About 2 hours away, Monte Rosa is the second highest mountain massifs in the Alps, with spectacular glaciers and alpine lakes. This is Filippo’s favourite mountain.
Filippo suggests Gressoney for mountain hikes, cable cars and beautiful views, or Macugnaga to admire the enormous east face of Monte Rosa.
You can also head towards Cervinia and the iconic Cervino (Matterhorn), 2h drive. The now known Toblerone mountain. Here you can get an easy hike to Oriondè hut at the base of the mountain, or Sofie suggests to take the lift to the top of little Cervino.