Discover Five Off-the-Beaten-Track Villages in Piedmont
Medieval Neive sits on top of a hill surrounded by vineyards.
Chianale, the last village of the Val Varaita before the border with France.
On the slopes of a steep hill, Orta San Giulio juts out from the eastern bank of Lake Orta.
Ricetto di Candelo, nicknamed ‘the medieval Pompeii of Piedmont’.
Vogogna, where to splurge on the local salumi and formaggi.
Neive, Chianale, Orta San Giulio, Ricetto di Candelo, Vogogna: five tiny villages you probably never heard of, oozing charm at every corner.
As our month devoted to Piedmont is nearing the end, we conclude with this slideshow that looks at these off-the-beaten-track borghi that are worth a stop as you make your way through the region of truffles and Barolo wine. All five of them are part of the network ‘Borghi più belli d’Italia.’
Located about 50 kilometres (31 mi) southeast of Turin, medieval Neive sits on top of a hill surrounded by vineyards; this is the heart of the region producing four prestigious wines, Barbera d’Alba, Dolcetto d’Alba, Barbaresco and Moscato d’Asti.
Chianale, ‘the last village in the valley’, is the highest village in the Val Varaita, where the famous Monviso mountain rises in all its majesty, and borders with France. The village develops along the banks of the river Varaita, in an idyllic setting.
Orta San Giulio is a medieval village built on a promontory jutting out from the eastern bank of Lake Orta. Its narrow streets look toward the lake and Isola San Giulio, a small island within the lake. Nearby is the famous Sacro Monte di Orta.
Ricetto di Candelo, nicknamed ‘the medieval Pompeii of Piedmont’, is a fortified structure, one of the best preserved examples in Piedmont, where local populations used to store food and gather for protection from external attacks.
At the heart of the Val d’Ossola, Vogogna is dominated by the Visconti castle, built in 1344 for the bishop of Novara. Above the castle are the remains of the old rocca (stronghold) dating from the 9th or 10th century. Try the local salumi and formaggi, which have a reputation for being especially good.
