Medieval towers in the hill-top towns of the Langhe.
Also see:
- Travel Journal: Piedmont
- Travels to Cloisters
Medieval towers in the hill-top towns of the Langhe.
Also see:
We leave Tuscany for the Langhe
Itis a return to one of our favorite areas of Italy, the Langhe area of the Piedmont Region.
We will be staying 2km from the town of Serralunga d'Alba at the Antico Podere Tota Virginia. This will be the first time we have stayed at this location and we look forward to offering a review after our stay.
Serralunga d'Alba is one of a number of old medieval towns that top the many hills of the Langhe.
Driving through the Langhe is an enchanting experience as with every bend in the road you come across another incredible view.
We have been to the Langhe a number of times and wanted to return here for Glenn's 60th birthday. We have make arrangements for a covrtible and plan to enjoy a number of days driving from town to town.
Serralunga d'Alba has an impressive castle that dates from 1340. The tall vertical structures of this castle are visible for quite a distance. The castle has two impressive towers, one round and one square.
The castle was bult to keep those unwanted, out. For examle, the walls of the castle are an impressive 1.8 metres thick. Getting access to the upper rooms was made challenging. For example, the towers are divided by floors without staircases.
We visited two cloisters while in Piedmont.
We enjoyed the drive to each, in our convertible of course that was a pleasure, but each of the abbayes are worth the drive and a visit.
The Abbazia di S. Maria di Vezzolano, is located in Albugnano, north of where we were staying. This is considered the best preserved ancient structure in Piedmont. A visit there is very pleasant.
The abbaye is located at the end of a small road. As you aproach you get a great view of the overall structure of the church with its bell tower.
Then its through a very impressive door, into the church itself, and then the cloisters.
Along one side of the cloisters is a stunning frescoe from the 14th Century.
More information is on the Travels to Cloisters web site.
The next day we decided to head south and visit the Certosa di Pesio which is located near San Bartolomeo.
This is a charterhouse that dates back to 1173. The cloisters are more like a loggia, a covered areas, as opposed to more gothic arches of medieval structures. We were fortunate that when we arrive, jsut a few moments before they close for the lunch period, when I mentioned to the person (in my limited Italian) that we were from Canada, he assumed I was French, and took us on a private tour of the complex, all in French.
As he talked, and I listed, the French slowly started to come back, and I started to pick up more and more of what he kept saying. We were quite the event, as when he introduced us to others, they would all reply "ahh, bonjour".
More information is on the Travels to Cloisters web site.
Next, on to Rome.
