Hotel I Castelli

Steel structure

by JLBG

On Piazza Medford, in front of the Grande Enoteca, stands a steel structure. Nothing says what it is supposed to mean but owing to the fact that the name of Alba is so strongly linked with the white truffle, I feel that the circle recalls the truffle itself while the wisp on top might recall its mycelium. Hmm…

Fruits and vegetables

by JLBG

Under the covered city market are mainly shops that sell fruits and vegetables. On the first photo, if you enlarge it, you will see superb paprikas, beautiful tomatoes, apples, artichokes, etc.

On the second photo, you will find on the right zucchini flowers. They are used to make fritters. It is a delicacy not only in Italy, but around the whole Mediterranean area. In the middle, in the foreground, mushrooms, namely Armillaria mellea. We were surprised to see that they were sold at this stage : they are considered to become inedible once the cap is open and here, it is widely open !

Not oranges !

by JLBG

If you do not enlarge it, you will feel this is another photo of oranges. If you enlarge it, you will see superb "pepperoni" (peppers). In supermarket, there are often peppers that look almost alike but as they are grown under a greenhouse, in a country where no pepper would grow outside they do not have any taste. These yellow and red peppers .are both beautiful AND tasty. You should taste them !

Monastero di Santa Maria Maddalena

by JLBG

Monastero di Santa Maria Maddalena (Monastery of Saint Mary Magdalene) stands at the corner of via Vittorio Emanuele and via Parruza. Unfortunately, we could see only the outside as the inside was under repair. The second photo shows the angle with via Parruza, the third shows the whole front of the church (as much as the narrow streets allows) and the fourth is a close up on the décor of the front. It was built in the first half of the 18th in a baroque style, on designs of the architect Bernardo Vittone in place of a previous one which was an annex of the Dominican monastery.

Wines and truffles: Langhe and Roero hill

by lichinga

"An impressive landscape"

IT's definitely impressive to travel around in the hills South of Torino, those areas locally known as Langhe, Roero and Monferrato. The low rounded hills are literally covered by wineyards and the kind top-grade wines they are producing makes every single plant a small treasure in itself (you're not allowed to plant any more!).