Alba, Italy, and Truffles!

 Alba, Italy, is a town in the Piedmont region and famous for its white truffles and wine. Indeed, a highlight of a visit to the region is to accompany a 'tartufaio' and his or her dog on a search for the elusive fungi.

One of our guides explaining the types of truffles and the regions where they may be found, and a young pup in training. In general, black truffles have been domesticated but the white truffle can be found only in the wild.

Our experienced dog on the hunt. Hogs were also used in the past to hunt for truffles, but that was prohibited decades ago because the hogs cause too much damage as they root for the truffle.

                      The beautiful Dosio winery is one of several in the region that focus on Barolo. 

                                                             One of my favorite walls, ever.

                                                     A beautiful countryside with rolling hills. 

The 18th-century Villa Beccaris is located on a hilltop just outside of Alba. The property has been updated to include a gorgeous sundeck and infinity pool. 

Turin: Mole Antonelliana, Piazzas, and the Villa della Regina

 One of highlights of the Piedmont Region is its capital, Turin, a city of approximately 850,000 people.

The symbol of the city is the Mole Antonelliana, named after its architect, Alessandro Antonelli. It was originally constructed in 1863 as a synagogue, but today houses the Museum of Cinema. Views from the observation deck are stellar. 

                                                  Many shopping arcades line the city's piazzas. 

                                     The Piazza Castello, with the Royal Palace in the background. 

     The Turin Cathedral. The adjacent Chapel of the Holy Shroud houses the legendary Shroud of Turin. 

                                                      A photo of the interior of the Cathedral. 

     The Palatine Towers, which served as one of four Roman city gates when Turin was a walled city. 

                                    Above and below, interior photos of the Royal Library of Turin.

                                                   One of the original indoor shopping arcades. 

                                                                     Piazza Carignano

 

The interesting facade of the Palazzo Carignano, which once housed the Italian Parliament and today is home to the Museum of the Risorgimento. 

Above, and following, are photos of the beautiful Villa della Regina, in baroque style, that was a residence of the consorts of the Savoy kings. The Villa fell into disrepair, particularly after bombing raids during WWII, but is now open to the public to pay for restoration. 

                                                   

                                 The gardens are an ornate world unto themselves. Just beautiful.

Vercelli Rice Farm, Stresa, Lake Maggiore, and Lago d'Orta

 A visit to a rice farm in Casalbeltrame, in the Vercelli area, was fun and informative. The owners patiently explained the differences between black rice varieties, such as Venere and Artemide, the giant Vercelli rice, and Carnaroli and Arborio varieties.

 

                                          One of the antique carriages in the family's collection.

The farm runs its own bistro, the Pane Amore e Poderia, and we enjoyed a meal of local wine and excellent risotto.

                            Ioppa Winery is a beautiful facility with a great product and enjoyable tour. 

We arrived in Stresa, on the shores of Lake Maggiore, and checked in at the beautiful Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees. Above is the reception desk.

The charming village of Orta San Giulio, on the banks of the Lago d'Orta, is great for strolling, shopping, and enjoying a fine meal. 

                                                                     The Plaza Motta

                                                                 The Isola Di San Giulio

                                                          The facade of the Hotel Borromees