Page 43 - DK Eyewitness: Back Roads Northern and Central Italy (Travel Guide)

DRIVE 2: In the Land of the Truffle 41

PLAN YOUR DRIVE

Start/finish: Barbaresco to Cuneo.
Number of days: 3–4, allowing for
a day in the Langhe region and a day
each for Valle Varaita and Valle Maira.
Distance: Approx 145 km (90 miles).
Road conditions: Roads are well-
surfaced, but not always numbered.
Rural routes are slow, winding and
popular with motor bikers and cyclists
Sommar
Sommarivaiva
Racc Racconigionigi at weekends. Mountain passes can be
del B del Boscoosco Magliano Tánaro Tánaro
Magliano
Alfier Alfierii Castag steep and mostly single track with few
Castagnolenole
Sanfr Sanfrèè
Corneliano
Mur Murelloello Corneliano delle Lanz passing places. Roads from Saluzzo
delle Lanzee
d’Alba
Sommarivaiva
Cardè
Cardè Maniga Sommar d’Alba
Maniga
Perno
Cavallerleoneleone
Torr Torree Cavaller Perno BARBARESCO Néiv Néivee onwards may be impassable from Oct–
Pióbesi BARBARESCO
Coazzoloolo
San Giórgiogio
San Giór Pocapáglia Pióbesi Coazz May/Jun; only attempt these roads with
Pocapáglia
d’Alba
d’Alba
Ruffia Ruffia Busi Busi snow chains, if experienced in driving in
la Colletta
Ostana la Colletta M. Br M. Braccoacco San San Varáita Cavallermaggiore BRA BRA Tre St snow. Late autumn sees fog throughout.
Ostana
Tre Stelleelle
Varáita Cavallermaggiore
1307m
1307m
Firmino
Trezzo Mango
Paesana Firmino Scar Scarnafiginafigi Monast Riva Riva ALBA Trezzo Mango
Paesana
ALBA
Monasteroloerolo
Pollenzoo
Tinella
Oncino Envie Envie di Sa di Saviglianovigliano Pollenz Roddi Tinella When to go: Spring and autumn are
Roddi
Oncino
Rivalta
Serre Serre Tánaro Tánaro Rivalta Gallo Gallo best for travelling and wine festivals. The
Revello
Revello Rua Ruata Eandita Eandi Rigr Rigrassoasso
GRINZANE CAVOURAVOUR
Mar Mareneene GRINZANE C woods are most colourful in autumn;
Piàn Muné
Piàn Muné Cher Cherascoasco
V a l l e d e l P o
Cerverere
V a l l e d e l P o
SALUZZO
Colombaroo
Annunziatata
Cima delle
Cima delle Po Po SALUZZO Colombar Cerve Annunzia October is white truffle time in Alba.
LA MORRAA
SAVIGLIANO
Stura di Demonte
Lóbbie T.ta di Rossi Rossi SAVIGLIANO LA MORR Mon Montelupotelupo
Lóbbie
T.ta di
Gambasca
Castiglione Albese
Lagnascoo
3015m
Pon Pontechianaletechianale 3015m Gar Garitta Nuovaitta Nuova Gambasca Mar Martinianatiniana Lagnasc Castiglione Albese Opening times: Shops tend to open
Fallett
Fallettoo
2385m
2385m Po Po Man Mantata Verg Vergnene
PIEMONTE
BAROLOO
Gilba Sup..
Gilba Sup PIEMONTE Stura di Demonte BAROL 9am–1pm and 4–7pm Mon–Sat, with
SAMPEYRERE
Cast Casteldelfinoeldelfino SAMPEY Verzuolo Falic Falicettoetto
Verzuolo
Bellino Isasca Máira Máira Monf Monforteorte some closing on Monday morning.
Bellino
Isasca
d’Alba
Genola
Frássino Genola Nov Novelloello d’Alba Churches are generally open 9am–
Frássino
V a l l e V a r a i t a
Sant Sant’Anna’Anna V a l l e V a r a i t a Brossasco Piascoo Costigliole Monsola Salmour
Brossasco Piasc
Salmour LéquioLéquio
Costigliole Monsola
Varaita Roddino noon and 4–7pm. Museums vary; those
Roddino
Varaita
Saluzzoo
Pelv Pelvo d’Elvao d’Elva Saluzz Tánar Tánaroo Monchier
Monchieroo
3065m Colle di Sampe Melle Melle in smaller places close in the week’s
3065m
Colle di Sampeyreyre
Levaldigii
Fossano
2284m Villafallett Mellea Mellea Levaldig Fossano
2284m
Villafallettoo
Giàs Giàs ELV ELVAA Valmala Bene Bene early part. Check ahead out of season.
Valmala
Goria Ugo
Chesta
Trav Traversieraersiera Goria Ugo Chesta Vag Vagiennaienna Dogliani
Dogliani
Mellea
Cuc Cucchialeschiales Mellea San San Main market days: Alba: truffle
Busca
Sebastiano
San M Busca Sebastiano Trinità market Sat (Oct–Dec); Bra: Wed;
San Micheleichele
Trinità
V a l l e M a i r a
Farigliano
Chiappera Vallone
Chiappera Vallone V a l l e M a i r a Riser Riserva Naturaleva Naturale Taran Cen Mur Murazzoazzo Sant Sant’ Albano’ Albano Pioz Piozzozo Farigliano 0 kilometres 10 Savigliano: Piazza Santa Rosa, Tue;
Tarantascatasca
Centallotallo
STROPPO Macr
Macraa
Stur
STROPPO
Sturaa
Ciciu del Villarillar
Ciciu del V
Maira
San Damiano
Villar San
Prazz Prazzoo San Damiano Maira Villar San Roa Roatata Carrù Carrù 0 miles 10 Cuneo: Piazza Galimberti, Tue.
Costanzoo
Macraa
Macr
Costanz
ACCEGLIO
ACCEGLIO Canósio Már Mármoramora Chiusani Shopping: Alba is full of shops selling
Chiusani
Canósio
Magliano
Chialvettaetta
DRONERO
Chialv DRONERO Prata Pratavecchiavecchia Villa Villatata Roa Roata Rossita Rossi Mon Montaneratanera Magliano Alpi
Alpi
Préit Préit Rca. Rca. Cernauda Cernauda truffles and truffle-infused products –
Prat Pratorotondoorotondo 2284m Mon Montemaletemale Passa Passatoretore Cast Castellettoelletto oil, pasta, purée – as well as hazelnut
2284m
Stur
Sturaa
M. Tibèr Pradlév di Cúneo Mor Morozzoozzo cakes and sweets. Cuneo is famous
M. Tibèrtt
T. Grana
Pradléveses
Caraglio
2647m di Cúneo Caraglio T. Grana Above Abandoned brick bridge on the route to Bra, see p43 Below Lofty mountain peaks of
2647m
Cast Castelmagnoelmagno Grana Valg Valgranarana Mar Margaritagarita the Valle Maira near Elva, Stroppo and Acceglio, see pp 45–6 for chestnuts and Bra for its cheese.
Grana
Mon Monterossoterosso San R San Roccoocco
CUNEO
Grana CUNEO Major festivals: Alba: Vinum (wine
Grana
M. Br M. Bramam
2367m fair), late-Apr/May; Fiera del Tartufo
2367m
Cerv Cervascaasca Bianco (white truffle fair), Oct–Nov;
San R San Roccoocco Colla Colla
Beinettee
Vignolo Beinett
Vignolo
Castag Palio degli Asini (donkey derby), first
Castagnarettanaretta
Sun in Oct; La Morra: Mangialonga
Gaiola Bove Bovess
Gaiola
Bor Borgogo (food tour of vineyards), last Sun in
S. Dalmazzoo
Demontete
Aisone
Aisone Demon S. Dalmazz Pever Peveragnoagno
Moiola
Moiola Rivóir Rivóiraa Aug; Bra: Cheese fair, alternate years
Roccavionevione
Stura di Demonte
Valle Stura Stura di Demonte Rocca from 2013; Cuneo: Fiera del Marrone
Valle Stura
Colletto
Colletto Robilante Va (chestnut fair), Oct.
1304m
1304m Gesso Gesso
Valdier
Valdierii
Roáschia
Sant Sant’ Anna’ Anna Roáschia DAY TRIP OPTIONS
di Valdierii
di Valdier Va l l e V e r m e n a g n a
Entr Entracqueacque Vernante
Robilante l l e V e r m
M. Matto
M. Matto Wine buffs will enjoy exploring the
3097m Vernante e n a g n a Langhe vineyards and museums,
3097m
TERME DI Tetti Suet not to mention tasting the superior
TERME DI
Tetti Suet
VALDIERI
VALDIERI produce. Outdoor enthusiasts can
Palanfrèè
Palanfr
Cima d. head for the pretty villages, valley
Cima d. Argentera Argentera
3297m
3297m San Giac greenery and mountain scenery of
San Giacomoomo
M. Carbonè
M. Carbonè the Valle Varaita. For full details, see p47.
2873m
2873m
LAGO DELLA
LAGO DELLA
ROVINA
ROVINA
040-041_Back_Roads_Northern_Italy.indd 41 21/09/17 11:19 am