Art, culture, charming Old Town, cosy restaurants and wherever you look wonderful views. I’m not sure if it’s a matter of colorful buildings, faded frescoes decorating buildings, flowers in windows or maybe numerous little shops full of regional products and lovely smelling sweets, but the true is I fell in love in Mondovi’ at first sight.
It’s Thursday afternoon. Heavy, dark clouds are gathering in the sky and a sound of rumble announces coming thunder. This day I have an appointment in Demarie Giovanni vineyard in the Roero area, on the left bank of the Tanaro river bordering with the Langhe in Piedmont. In Alba I meet with Giulia Breveglieri from Well Com company who arranged my tour and accompanies me to Vezza d’Alba. While we are driving suddenly a cloudburst gets us on the way and instantly the main streets turn into rapid creeks. Fortunately when we arrive to the place the weather changes dramatically and only cannon salvos that protects grapes against grade remind about thunderstorm only few minutes before overpowered Piedmont hills.
Hot, very hot. Thirty Celsius degree, burning sun and only light breeze gives some relief from merciless heat. The summertime have stayed for good in the Langhe. Maturing grapes, flourishing pots, waving green hills, tourists drinking slowly wines in local wineries and central Alba’s squares that invites you to dance in hot evenings. Living here you cannot resist the atmosphere of holidays and fall in love again and again with surrounding landscapes, friendly people, tiny towns and amazing food. Anyway, let’s have a look on some of my fotos from Neive and Barbaresco.
4 days, 145 of Fiat Coupe’, 267 participants from 13 countries, 1 broken radiator, 1 fixed gear shift, 5 less and more crashed cars and a lot of positive energy. It’s how I would describe in a few words the gathering of Fiat Coupe’ lovers in occasion of 20th anniversary of this model hosted in the capital of Piedmont on May 30th-June 2nd.
It’s Tuesday, May 22nd 2014. Cloudy sky forecasts showers. Central streets of Alba are closed to traffic and it’s a miracle I managed to find a parking place near corso Langhe. I walk to piazza Savona along the street decorated with pink balloons, passing by supporters waiting for the first cyclist. This day Alba is on the route of 12th stage of the Giro d’Italia 2014, the ITT (Individual Time Trials) Barbaresco – Barolo on the distance of 42,2 kilometers.
Springtime in Alba starts with Vinum – the event dedicated to new vintages of Langhe and Roero wines like Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera d’Alba, Dolcetto, Langhe Nebbiolo, Alta Langa, Moscato d’Asti that takes place every year at the end of April and at the beginning of May (this time April 25th – May 4th). It’s time when narrow streets of old town fill with tourists and townspeople walking with a glass of wine and main squares transform into islands of wine and local food specialties tastings.
