Weekend or Sunday outing: the most beautiful villages to visit in Piedmont

Not only weekends but also Sunday lunches and day trips. When talking about Piedmont, it is only right to mention some of the most charming villages in northern Italy that, thanks to their proximity to Milan, can easily be visited for the aforementioned occasions.

Following is a small selection of the most beautiful and unmissable ones that, during the weekends of late summer and, even better, early autumn, welcome tourists from all over Italy and Europe.

Orta San Giulio

The name of this wonderful village comes from the same as the lake it overlooks, one of the most fascinating in Italy. Here time seems to stand still, to be marked only by the movement of the calm, clear waters of Lake Orta.

With its medieval atmosphere, Orta San Giulio welcomes its visitors and accompanies them to discover the old-style buildings in the historic center, the market in Piazza Motta that has been held, since as far back as 1228, every Wednesday, and the mysterious Island of San Giulio, just a few minutes by ferry from the town.

Neive

We are located a few kilometers from Alba, on the territory of Cuneo in one of the municipalities where it seems that the vineyards, perhaps exceed the number of people. Neive is the oldest of the villages in the Land of Four Wines (Barbaresco, Barbera, Dolcetto, and Moscato). Among the village’s most characteristic features are the Clock Tower, the Castle, which dominates the town and valley, and the Palazzo della Contessa Demaria.

Vogogna

The origins of this village in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola go back as far as Roman times, and some architectural elements bear witness to this. Don’t miss the Visconti Castle from 1348 and the Praetorian Palace. It has to be said: in Vogogna you immerse yourself in the past.

Candelo

If you are looking for tradition and folklore, you are undoubtedly in the right place. In Candelo, a medieval structure dominates, located in the center of the village, which was once used to protect the population from possible attacks, or as an ancient vault for the goods of the local lords. Today, only the structures and stories remain from those days, but the panoramic view of the Biellese Pre-Alps remains and the cultural and historical heritage are elements that absolutely must be discovered and savored. 

Monforte d’Alba

Very often when it comes to ancient villages and places, historical culture is mixed with culinary culture. This is the case with Monforte d’Alba, which is one of the production municipalities of a Piedmontese wine excellence: Barolo.

The Cuneo village is also known for the natural amphitheater inaugurated by Ukrainian pianist Mieczysław Horszowski in 1986 and for the giant purple bench symbol created to support the excellence of local tourism.

Sacra di San Michele

We are in the province of Turin, but this time we are not talking about a village, but an architectural complex so elaborate that it can almost be considered one. We are talking about the Abbey of San Michele della Chiusa, which dominates the summit of Mount Pirchiriano.

It is a place with a dual identity, one ancient and one modern. The first refers to the still visible ruins of the New Monastery and the Bell’Alda Tower. The second, on the other hand, to the newly renovated Gothic-style church.

This place is said to have inspired Umberto Eco in the writing of “The Name of the Rose.”

Grinzane Cavour

Undoubtedly an icon of the Piedmont region, when one thinks of Grinzane Cavour one cannot help but immediately think of its Castle.

Once the residence of Count Camillo Benso, it is now the site of the annual World Alba White Truffle Auction. The latter is non-profit but aims to raise the proceeds, which are then entirely donated to charities in Italy and around the world.