The main attractions of Alba are:
- Palazzo Comunale - built in the 13th century.
- some towers 14th - 15th centuries Alba was once famous as the “city of a hundred towers.”
- town hall XIII century,
- gothic church San Domenico(San Domenico, XIII-XIV centuries) is the most significant church in the city from an artistic point of view. Prominent portal with triple arch, polygonal apse. During the Napoleonic Wars, the church was used as stables.
- Gothic Cathedral of San Lorenzo ( Duomo di Alb a, XII - XV centuries) - built in the Romanesque style in the 12th century, most likely on the site of an ancient Roman temple. In the 15th century, the cathedral was rebuilt by Bishop Andrea Novelli, and then reconstructed several times. The cathedral received its current appearance after restoration in the 19th century, and the crypt and three portals were preserved from the original construction. The cathedral is famous for its carved wooden choir, created in 1512 by Bernardo Fossati. The cathedral's current bell tower, dating from the 12th century, incorporates elements of the original structure.
- baroque church of st. John the Baptist, which contains an image of the Madonna by Barnaba da Modena (1377) and “Madonna with Saints” (1508) by Macrino d’Alba.
- Museum of Archeology and Natural Sciences F. Uesebio.
In addition, Alba known as a mining center Piedmontese truffle.
Alba city map:
Alba(Italian and drink. Alba, local. Arba) - main city Langhe region on the border of Liguria and Piedmont, along the Tanaro River, in the Italian province of Cuneo. The surrounding area is famous for its peaches, white truffles and dry wine. Saint Lawrence is considered the patron saint of the city. The city holiday is celebrated annually on August 10.
Story
Founding of the settlement of Alba Pompeii ( Alba Pompeia) on the road from Acqui Terme to Turin is attributed to the consul Pompey Strabo. One of the Roman emperors, Pertinax, was born in this city. Since the 4th century, Alba had its own bishop under the command of the Archbishop of Milan. Since the 11th century - a free commune of the Lombard League, in later times - a bone of contention between the Montferrat Aleramichi, the Milanese Visconti and the House of Gonzaga. As a result of the War of the Mantuan Succession (1631), it went to the House of Savoy, after which it lost its former significance.
In 1946, a confectionery company was founded in Alba Ferrero, which specializes in the production of sweets Raffaello and other similar sweets.
Attractions
Ancient monuments - the Romanesque Cathedral of St. Lawrence (completed in 1486, reconstructed in the 19th century), the Gothic Church of St. Dominica, medieval episcopal palace, public places of the 13th century, as well as some towers of the 14th-15th centuries.
Gallery
During the heyday of the Roman Empire, it was an important strategic and shopping mall, in which construction was actively underway, including an aqueduct to supply the city with water, as well as a sewer network.
The medieval walls of the city represent an excellent defense system: built on a foundation more than two meters high and half a meter thick, the walls were reinforced with fortress towers and surrounded by a defensive moat along the entire perimeter. Each of the five city gates also had one or two observation towers.
Alba city in winter.
In the 16th-17th centuries Alba for a long time remained a point of contention between the French and Spaniards, experienced several earthquakes and a plague epidemic, which led to a certain decline that lasted until the 18th century, when art and literature finally began to flourish in the city again. The Academy of Literature was formed, new buildings were built: the Hospital of St. Lazarus, the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, the Church of St. Mary Magdalene.
The reconstruction and architectural renewal of the city began in the 19th century on the initiative of Carlo Felice. After the destruction caused by the French Revolution, this was a necessity. A Magdalene monastery, a public theater, the Miroglio Palace, Savona Square and Roman Street appeared.
View of Alba
Photo: Rostislav Glinsky Photography
In the twentieth century, various fairs began to be organized in Alba with great success. The Truffle Fair, born in 1929, and the wine and grape harvest festivals have contributed to the strengthening of local traditions and the spread of local products. These traditions are actively supported even now: truffles and sweets, presented in abundance in Alba’s shop windows, organically fit into the medieval landscape of the historical center.
Why is the city interesting?
Alba is known as the city of a hundred towers, all of them built in the 14th-15th centuries. Now there are few of them left, mainly in the area between Renaissance Square and Via Cavour, and many of them have been shortened to roof level or are now invisible behind tall buildings.
Via Vittorio Emanuele, Alba's main street, starts from Piazza Renaissance and runs through the entire historical center. This favorite place for walks for locals and tourists, also because here you can observe a variety of architectural styles - from the Middle Ages to Liberty.
One of the streets of Alba. Photo: Rostislav Glinsky Photography
Alba Cathedral rises on the Renaissance Square. Over the centuries, the Duomo was repeatedly restored and rebuilt, trying to bring it into line with architectural style specific era. The cathedral tower, one of the tallest in Piedmont, hides an ancient bell from the 12th century. On the facade you can see the figure of St. Lawrence of Rome and the symbols of the four evangelists. Inside the cathedral, the crypt from 1503 and numerous frescoes are of interest.
Facade of the Duomo. Photo: Rostislav Glinsky Photography
The municipal building is also located there, on Renaissance Square. On interior walls On the main staircase of the building you can admire frescoes from the Church of St. Domenic, among which the 14th century Pieta and the Adoration of the Magi stand out.
Duomo, Photo: Rostislav Glinsky Photography
The Church of St. Domenic, restored in the 70s, is currently used as a venue for exhibitions and concerts. Not far from it is the Church of St. Catherine, whose construction in the Baroque style dates back to the 17th century. The Church of St. John contains many interesting works of art from the 14th to 16th centuries. The more modern Church of St. Paul, rising on the square of the same name, was built in 1925.
New Year's tree in Piazza Duomo in Alba.
Photo: Rostislav Glinsky Photography
On Vittorio Emanuele there are two more interesting churches. One of them is dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene and in the 18th century belonged to the Dominican monks; for many believers it was the goal of pilgrimage. Almost opposite it is the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, very old, built on the ruins of Roman walls, the first mention of it in documents dates back to the 13th century.
The city museum, founded in 1897 by the historian and archaeologist Federico Eusebio, now bears his name. The museum began as a collection of archaeological collections, only recently it has been enriched and expanded to include various departments of natural sciences.
In addition, Alba is home to one of the ten Italian wineries educational institutions, founded back in 1881, is the technical and agricultural institute named after Umberto I, whose graduates specialize in viticulture and winemaking.
Traditional products and local holidays
Every year in October Alba hosts white truffle fair. Born on the initiative of restaurateur Giacomo Morra in 1928 as one of the areas of the grape harvest festival, the white truffle fair subsequently became an independent event. In 2007 it received international status.
By the way, already in the 18th century, Piedmontese truffles were revered by all European courts as one of the most gourmet dishes. In particular, the white truffle of Alba, which is collected in the vicinity of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato, has always been considered the most valuable among truffles.
White truffles. Photo italiasquisita.net
This year, the 81st “International White Truffle Fair of Alba” will run from October 8 to November 13, with this year’s motto “Love over crisis.” One of the main events of the fair is the world truffle market (Mercato Mondiale del Tartufo), opened in the historical center of Alba, where on Saturdays and Sundays you can buy your favorite truffle.
Choosing a truffle. Photo: riviera24.it
In addition to the truffles themselves, the fair will offer other enogastronomic riches of the Langhe and Roero regions. There are plenty of wines, cheeses, sausages and confectionery available for sale or tasting.
As a rule, the truffle fair is accompanied by many cultural events. These are exhibitions, theatrical performances, historical dramatizations, meetings with famous creative personalities. In particular, on October 2, the fair will open with donkey races and the “hundred towers” knightly tournament.
Every year, the organizers of the festival give the best specimen of truffle to a invited celebrity. Alfred Hitchcock, Joe di Maggio, Alain Delon, Hugo Tognazzi, and Gerard Depardieu have already received such gifts.
Celebrities with truffles. Photo enonews.it
If the celebration of truffles in Alba takes place in the fall, then in the spring it is the turn of wine: over three weekends in April-May it unfolds Vinum holiday- demonstration of wine products from the Langhe and Roero regions. Wine here is revered not only as main character tastings, but also as a drink closely connected with the culture and history of this region. In the historical center of the city, more than 250 distilleries offer wine tourists to taste their products, pouring wine into a glass suspended, as required by tradition, around the tourist’s neck. And at this holiday you can try and purchase other traditional products of the region, appreciate the art of chefs of local restaurants, and also take part in tastings, exhibitions, meetings, and concerts.
Among the world-famous products presented at this festival are wines and, which are among the ten best wines in the world. Both are produced from Nebbiolo grapes grown in the Langhe and Roero regions, and both bear the DOCG label, which guarantees and controls their origin.
Vineyards of the Langhe region. Photo it.wikipedia.org
The name Barolo originates from the noble Falletti family, the Marquises, who began growing the grapes. It is said that one day the Marquise Falletti presented King Charles Albert with 300 barrels (600 liters each) of Barolo wine, because the king wanted to try this “new wine”. Karl Albert appreciated the gift so much that he decided to buy the entire Verduno estate in order to start producing wine himself.
Barolo wine collection. Photo it.wikipedia.org
Wine Barbaresco (then still under the name "") received a gold medal at an exhibition in London in 1862, and thirty years later this wine began to be produced in the Barbaresco castle, hence its current name.
Grapes for Barbaresco wine. Photo ru.wikipedia.org
Barolo goes well with charcoal-grilled meats, game, hard cheeses and truffles. Barbaresco also goes well with any meat dish.
Another well-known traditional product of this area is the nut, or rather, Piedmontese hazelnuts. In the regions of Langhe and Monferrato, the “Noble Round Nut of Langhe” (nocciola Tonda Gentile delle Langhe), which is distinguished by particularly valuable qualities, is grown. Since 1993, it has been marked with the IPG seal, protecting its geographical origin, with the name “Piedmont Walnut” (Nocciola Piemonte).
Piedmontese hazelnut. Photo saporitipici.it
In the two small towns of Cortemilia and Cravanzana, located about 30 km southeast of Alba, as always, at the beginning of autumn, the Piedmontese nut festival takes place. This year its date is September 24-25. Cortemilia will host the national forum "City of the Hazelnut", while in Cravanzan there will be culinary events, tastings, competitions and performances, all somehow related to hazelnuts.
The famous Ferrero company is inextricably linked with Piedmontese walnuts. In 1942, it was founded in Alba by entrepreneur Pietro Ferrero, with the goal of inventing new and inexpensive sweets using a local product - hazelnuts. Four years later, he came up with the idea to create a sweet cream based on hazelnuts, which gained enormous popularity among consumers.
In April 1964, Nutella appeared, then the Kinder line, Raffaello and many other confectionery products that became popular all over the world. Now Ferrero has become a multinational concern with its center in Luxembourg, and its Italian center is located in the city of Pino Torinese.
Breakfast with Nutella. Photo: targatocn.it
