Alba, Medieval commune in Piedmont, Italy
Alba is a commune in the Province of Cuneo in northwestern Italy, sitting along the Tanaro River at 172 meters above sea level. Around the historic center with its narrow lanes and tall brick facades, gentle hills covered with vineyards and small hamlets spread out toward the horizon.
The settlement was founded around 89 BCE by Roman consul Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo, who named it Alba Pompeia and positioned it on a major road between Turin and the coast. During the Middle Ages, control shifted several times among local noble families and neighboring cities, before the town later became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia.
The name Alba comes from the Latin word for white, perhaps referring to the pale stone or the autumn fog that drifts through the Tanaro valley. Today, squares and narrow streets become a social hub during the October truffle fair, where locals and visitors gather around stalls and tasting counters.
The historic center is easy to explore on foot, with most points of interest within a 20-minute walk of each other. Many shops and eateries close for a few afternoon hours, so visiting in the morning or early evening often works better.
Beneath the town hall lie remains of a Roman amphitheater, whose foundations were uncovered during 20th-century excavations. Some sections of the ancient structure are now visible through glass panels set into the floor, offering a glimpse of the old construction.
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Piedmont stretches between the Alps and the plains of the Po, with towns from the past, hills covered in vineyards, and peaks that touch the borders of France and Switzerland. Turin, the main city of the region, has world-famous museums like the Egyptian Museum, squares with arcades, and royal homes...
Castle of Grinzane Cavour
4.9 km
Castle of Grinzane Cavour
4.9 km
Alba Cathedral
1.3 km
Castle of Roddi
4.2 km
Santa Maria Maddalena, Alba
1.1 km
San Giovanni Battista
4.5 km
Palazzo Marro
1.2 km
Federico Eusebio Civic Museum of Archaeology and Natural Sciences, Alba
1.1 km
San Giovanni Battista
5.9 km
San Sebastiano
4.1 km
Alba Sotterranea - Ambiente & Cultura (prenotazione in anticipo obbligatoria)
1.3 km
Torre Astesiano
1.3 km
Torre Ravinale
1.3 km
Museo Civico Federico Eusebio
1.1 km
Torre di Barbaresco
5.9 km
Teatro Sociale Giorgio Busca
1.3 km
San Rocco
3.6 km
Torre Bonino
1.3 kmChiesa di Santa Rosalia
2.3 kmChiesa di Santa Margherita
867 m
Santa Caterina
1.3 kmPalazzo vescovile
1.4 km
San Rocco
5.1 km
San Giovanni Battista
1.2 km
Santi Cosma e Damiano
1 kmMuseo delle langhe
4.9 km
Tempio di San Paolo (Alba)
999 m
Chiesa di Maria Vergine Assunta
4.2 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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