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If you’re a lover of vermouth, you can explore the Martini Factory, learn about the history of the production plant, and taste the products.
Another less known tourist destination is the UNESCO heritage listed Langhe hills – just an hour south of Turin. It’s full of Italy’s best wine, and lots of royal castles of the Savoia family if you’re a history lover. Not to mention beautiful food, small town experiences and mountainous landscapes – perfect for cycling holidays.
Barbaresco is one of the small towns in the Langhe I definitely recommend visiting, especially if you're a bit of a wine connoisseur.
Who: 52-year-old Liliana, with her family.
Where: Turin, Italy.
How long: 10 times in the past 15 years for a month at a time.
What do you value most when travelling?
Seeing family & friends around the world is really special. Turin and the wider Piedmont region is also very well known for it’s classic cuisine. As it’s a land of vineyards and hills, you can find a variety of high quality products – such as the famous Alba white truffle, Barolo wines, Piedmontese cattle breed, and hazelnuts (it’s the home of Nutella!).
Hidden gems or recommendations?
Photograph Credit: Swiss Traveler
Photograph Credit: MT Magazine
While tourists gravitate towards Rome, Alba is the most authentic Italian wine and food experience you’re going to get. There are one of a kind wineries that don’t ship anywhere else in the world. Every sip and bite tells a story. We stumbled upon a tiny family producer and wine cellar called Ca 'Rome. We chatted with the local owners of the particular vineyard, tasted the wine, and brought a few bottles home to Australia.
Baratti & Milano is a must, it is a chocolate and coffee shop which is more than 160 years old. This is an iconic sweet treat/dolci destination in the city centre which I have visited time and time again. It has a stunning historical interior, and serves up the best Italian treats, coffee and traditional hot chocolate. I have brought back many gifts for friends in Australia over the years.
Photograph Credit: Pastifico Defilippis
Any tips from the locals?
Pastifico Defilippis is a pasta restaurant in Turin which has been around since the 1800s when the chef for the Italian Royal Family opened it. The restaurant space is split in two and separates the dining space from the kitchen and small-scale pasta factory where you can purchase their fresh pasta to take home. As a family of cooks, we loved watching how our meals were made from the very beginning straight until it was delivered to our table. They make all different types of authentic Italian pastas – such as seasonal raviolil, anglotti and spaghetti, and pair it with the recommended sauce. This is quite unlike the typical pasta experience you’d have in Australia, and definitely makes this little place a hidden gem. We went back multiple nights in a row and the owners were so warm and welcoming.
Things you wish you knew before visiting?
While the small towns are one-of-a-kind experiences, you have to be careful with the season you visit. Some towns (like Lake Como will shut down in the winters from October to Easter when tourists don’t visit as much).
Did your city have any seasonal events/markets?
Mercato Centrale is the iconic market in Turin, open 7 days a week. It’s well known for its amazing food and a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and produce.
There’s also lots of festivities at Christmas like Christmas markets, lights in the main squares (e.g. Piazza castello) and the feast day of the Patron saint San Giovanni Battista, on the 24th of June.
Alba, situated in the heart of the Langhe, is home to the famous White Truffle Fair – a big event in the region. This is also the place where Ferrero and Nutella was born, and so is world-renowned for its hazelnuts.
