The Sacra di San Michele, together with the New Monastery, the New Church, and the Tower of Bell’Alda, is undoubtedly one of the most mysterious and enchanting places in all of Piedmont. Beyond its artistic and architectural beauty and its rich history, the Sacra is renowned because esoteric experts consider it one of the three points of an ???????ic alignment (along with Mont Saint-Michel in France and Monte Sant’Angelo in Puglia). In short, it is a place full of charm and mystery—an absolute must-see.
Turin is the birthplace of chocolate.
The serving of this delicious drink was officially authorized in 1678 by Madame Royale Giovanna Battista of Nemours, and as early as the 18th century, chocolate became solid and was transformed into chocolate bars. The first major companies were founded in Piedmont, such as Caffarel, where even aspiring chocolatiers from Switzerland came to learn the craft. Gianduja was created in 1865 by Michel Prochet, who, by mixing chocolate with roasted hazelnuts to save on cocoa, unknowingly invented one of the great icons of Piedmontese confectionery: the gianduiotto. Turin has long been a European master in the art of chocolate-making, ever since it devised an ingenious method to separate cocoa butter, which made it possible to produce solid chocolate rather than limiting it to beverages. This marked the beginning of a confectionery tradition that would flourish enormously and bring Turin worldwide fame. Even today, the city holds the national record for producing irresistible pralines.
An Invitation to Court… a Morning at the Reggia di Venaria
After years of extensive restoration, this masterpiece by great 17th- and 18th-century architects was brought back to life in 2007. It offers a wonderful opportunity to relax while listening to Baroque music, enjoy the Water Theatre of the largest musical fountain in Europe, and be left breathless by the magnificence of the Great Gallery, the transcendent light of the Chapel of Saint Hubert, and the grandeur of the Citroniera—absolute masterpieces by Filippo Juvarra. In the newly designed gardens, entirely restored in recent years, your gaze will wander across the reflective pools of the Peschiera and the Canal, the strict symmetry of the parterres, and the richness of the 17th-century garden, as well as modern artworks displayed in the Lower Park. The stables also host shows, concerts, and major events. The Venaria complex is, in short, a vast, varied, and evocative space of extraordinary charm—one that is sure to captivate every visitor.
Alba, in the heart of the Langhe, is set within a truly enchanting landscape. Its territory is characterized by gentle rolling hills covered with renowned vineyards whose fruits have made the region famous. Piedmont’s wine production is known worldwide thanks to the prestigious wines from the Alba area, such as Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, and Dolcetto. The Langhe region, located between the provinces of Asti and Cuneo, is now famous far beyond Piedmont for its scenic beauty and outstanding food and wine traditions. Thanks to its natural landscape and its extensive, high-quality wine production, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2014, together with the areas of Roero and Monferrato.
The town of Alba lies in the Lower Langhe, an area renowned not only for its excellent wine production but also for its truffles, particularly the famous white truffle of Alba. Let us begin our itinerary by exploring some of the city’s main civic and religious buildings. We start with the Town Hall, which, due to its central location and historical significance, is one of Alba’s main attractions. Probably built on the site of an ancient Roman structure, the municipal building houses several artworks of great value. The council chamber features a painting by the renowned local artist Macrino d’Alba (16th century), Virgin and Child, while along the main staircase walls stands a fine fresco depicting a beautiful Adoration of the Magi.
The city’s main religious building is located in Piazza Risorgimento, in the heart of the historic center: Alba Cathedral, dedicated to the city’s patron saint, Saint Lawrence. It was most likely built in the 12th century and later restored and modified several times over the centuries, eventually acquiring its present appearance at the end of the 19th century. The cathedral is also known throughout Piedmont for its tall bell tower, which encloses the original 12th-century structure within it.
The visit to Alba concludes at the beautiful Church of San Domenico, founded in 1292 and completed over the centuries, before undergoing restoration beginning in the 1930s. The church features an interesting Gothic layout, and its façade is adorned with a fresco depicting the Madonna of the Rosary with Saint Dominic and Saint Catherine. The interior, organized into three naves, is decorated with valuable frescoes and is unfurnished, often serving as a venue for cultural events, exhibitions, and concerts.
The Stupinigi Hunting Lodge, located in the homonymous hamlet near Turin, is a magnificent work by Filippo Juvarra. Its construction began in 1729 at the request of Victor Amadeus II of Savoy, who commissioned the project with the intention of transforming the existing castle into a royal residence befitting the House of Savoy. He also wished to present his son, Charles Emmanuel III, with a hunting lodge for leisure and festivities. The first hunt in the surrounding area took place in 1731. However, at that time, Stupinigi was not the Savoys’ primary residence, as they spent relatively short periods there, mainly during the hunting season.
Construction continued until the end of the 18th century, and over the years the structure was expanded and enriched under the direction of various architects. Many illustrious figures stayed at the lodge, including Emperor Joseph II, Tsarevich Paul Romanov, Ferdinand I and Caroline of Bourbon, and even Napoleon Bonaparte, who stayed there in 1805 shortly before his coronation. The marriage of Victor Emmanuel II was also celebrated here in 1842, before the lodge was transferred to the state in 1919. Since 1929, it has belonged to the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus. Today, the complex is open to the public.
The heart of the palace is the splendid oval hall, frescoed with scenes inspired by hunting. From here, four wings extend in the shape of a Saint Andrew’s cross, leading to the royal apartments and guest quarters. The hunting theme is echoed in the decorations of the other rooms, furnished with sumptuous Rococo-style furniture. The complex also includes a chapel dedicated to Saint Hubert and a gallery of portraits of members of the Savoy royal family. The adjoining park is also noteworthy: now home to the Stupinigi Natural Park, it covers 1,700 hectares. Originally designed in 1724 in the French style, it later evolved into an English garden. After eight years of restoration, the gardens reopened to the public on June 1, 2016, restored to their original design, with grand avenues extending from the Hall of Festivities. The Palazzina di Caccia of Stupinigi and its gardens are truly a jewel of Juvarra’s architecture.
Aosta, a Roman and medieval city and regional capital, with its 34,000 inhabitants, is the only city in the Aosta Valley. It lies on a broad plain at the center of the Alpine region, surrounded by high mountains, including Grand Combin and Mont Vélan to the north, Mont Emilius and Becca di Nona to the south, and Testa del Rutor to the west. The city developed at the confluence of the Dora Baltea River and the Buthier stream, as well as along two historic routes leading to France and Switzerland via the Little and Great St. Bernard passes, and today also through the Mont Blanc and Great St. Bernard tunnels.
Aosta is also an important stop along the Via Francigena, the ancient pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome, which descends from the Great St. Bernard pass and continues along the central valley to Pont-Saint-Martin. The Romans founded the city in 25 BC, naming it Augusta Praetoria in honor of Emperor Augustus. Known as the “Rome of the Alps,” Aosta preserves much of its original city walls and boasts an impressive archaeological area stretching from Porta Praetoria—its majestic and well-preserved gateway—to the Roman Theatre, whose monumental façade is one of the most significant remains of the era. A visit is especially enjoyable when wandering through its lively pedestrian streets and the central Piazza Chanoux, enjoying shopping, local specialties in the many restaurants, cafés, and wine bars, or attending events and activities organized throughout the city.
