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Castelletto Monferrato is a municipality in the Province of Alessandria, in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 70 kilometres (43 mi) east of Turin and about 8 kilometres (5 mi) northwest of Alessandria.
Castelletto Monferrato
The Italian Riviera
Approximately 98 Kilometers from Castelletto Monferrato is the italian Riviera, the narrow coastal strip which lies between theLigurian Sea and the mountain chain formed by the Maritime Alps and the Apennines.
The riviera's centre is Genoa, which divides it into two main sections: the Riviera di Ponente (“the coast of the setting sun”), extending westwards from Genoa to the French border; and the Riviera di Levante (“the coast of the rising sun”) between Genoa and Capo Corvo.
It is famous for its particularly mild climate and relaxed way of life which, together with the charm of its old fishing ports and the beauty of its landscape, has made it a popular destination for travellers and tourists since the time ofByron and Shelley.
Many villages and towns in the area are internationally known, such as Portofino, Bordighera, Lerici and the Cinque Terre.
Citadella di Alessandria
The Cittadella of Alessandria (Italian: Cittadella di Alessandria) is a star fort and citadel in the city of Alessandria, Italy. It was built in the 18th century by the Kingdom of Sardinia, and today it is one of the best preserved fortifications of that era. It is one of the few fortifications in Europe still in their original environment, since there are no buildings blocking the views of the ramparts, or a road that surrounds theditches.
Museo del cappello Borsalino
The Borsalino is a company of clothing of Alexandriato whom we owe the invention of a type of hat in felt that for par excellence was called Borsalino.
In the spring of 2006 Borsalino opened a specific museum to express initiative of the City of Alessandria and the Borsalino SpA to remember the different historical phases that have characterized the industry Borsalino hat. The museum, which covers an exhibition area of 400 m², is home to about two thousand hats - selected from among the more than four thousand of the collection - on display in the historic style cabinets Chippendale , made in the twenties by Arnaldo Gardella for the Hall Samples of the plant
Turin
Approximately 75 kilometers from Castelletto Monferrato is Turin. There's a whiff of Paris in Turin's elegant tree-lined boulevards and echoes of Vienna in its stately art nouveau cafes, but make no mistake – this city is anything but a copycat. The innovative Torinese gave the world its first saleable hard chocolate, perpetuated one of its greatest mysteries (the Holy Shroud), popularised a best-selling car (the Fiat) and inspired the black-and-white stripes of one of the planet's most iconic football teams (Juventus).
But more important than any of this is Turin's role as instigator of the modern Italian state. Piedmont, with its wily Torinese president, the Count of Cavour, was the engine room of the Risorgimento (literally 'the Resurgence', referring to Italian unification). Turin also briefly served as Italy's first capital and donated its monarchy – the venerable House of Savoy – to the newly unified Italian nation in 1861.
More recently, the 2006 Winter Olympics sparked an urban revival in the city, which has spread to its culture and, most deliciously, its cuisine.
Approximately 90 kilometers from Castelletto Monferrato is Turin, known for it's wine and vineyards.
Turin, Italy and its surrounding area is known for the three B’s of wine – Barbaresco, Barolo, and Barbera. There are a few other letters that should be added here, like A for Asti which produces a sparkling spumanti and the twin G’s, Gattinaras and Ghemmes.
The Piedmont (the region of Turin) is regarded by many as the finest wine producing region in Italy
Wine & Food
The Italian Lake District stretches across Northern Italy. The southern ends of most of the lakes are relatively flat (a continuation of the River Po Plain), but the northern ends are mountainous as the lakes reach deep into the Alps. Popular with Northern Europeans and Italians alike for over 100 years, the Italian Lakes combine good weather with attractive scenery. The climate is mild in both summer and winter, producing Mediterranean vegetation, with beautiful gardens growing rare and exotic plants. Well-known gardens include those of the Isola Madre, Isola Bella and the Isole di Brissago, that of the Villa Taranto in Pallanza near Verbania, and the Alpinia botanical garden above Stresa. Lake Maggiore is the longest lake of the Italian Lakes measuring 65 km. long and has a surface area of 215 sq. km. It is about 2.5 km. in width on average, although twice as wide near Luino. The Borromean Bay between Stresa and Verbania, is blessed with three islands known as the Borromean Islands. These islands are not to be missed on a visit to Lake Maggiore. Isola Bella is known for its baroque palace and gardens, Isola Pescatori for it's fishing character with it's typical lake boats and the scenic Isola Madre is known for its gardens. The lake’s jagged banks are surrounded by the Prealps of Piedmont and Lombardy. The western bank is in Piedmont (provinces of Novara and Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola) and the eastern in Lombardy (province of Varese), whereas the most northerly section extends thirteen kilometres into Switzerland, where it constitutes the lowest point above sea-level in that entire country.
Lago Maggiore.
Langhe
The Langhe (Langa from old dialect Mons Langa et Bassa Langa) is a hilly area to the south and east of the river Tanaro in the province of Cuneo in Piedmont, northern Italy.
It is famous for its wines, cheeses, and truffles—particularly the white truffles of Alba. The countryside as it was in the first half of the 20th Century features prominently in the writings of Beppe Fenoglio and Cesare Pavese, who was born there, in Santo Stefano Belbo.
On 22 June 2014, Langhe were inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage list[1] for its cultural landscapes, outstanding living testimony to winegrowing and winemaking traditions that stem from a long history, and that have been continuously improved and adapted up to the present day. They bear witness to an extremely comprehensive social, rural and urban realm, and to sustainable economic structures. They include a multitude of harmonious built elements that bear witness to its history and its professional practices. Its vineyards constitute an outstanding example of man’s interaction with his natural environment. Following a long and slow evolution of winegrowing expertise, the best possible adaptation of grape varieties to land with specific soil and climatic components has been carried out, which in itself is related to winemaking expertise, thereby becoming an international benchmark. The winegrowing landscape also expresses great aesthetic qualities, making it into an archetype of European vineyards.
Slow Food Movement
Slow Food, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting food enjoyment, biodiversity and sustainability, was founded in Piedmont in 1989. Carlo Petrini, an editor, writer and intellectual, took action in response to the first McDonald’s restaurant opening in Rome. The grassroots association has since blossomed into a global movement that spans 150 countries and counts 100,000 members. Boil Slow Food’s principles to their purest form and you have a pretty clear window onto Piedmont’s food beliefs.
Slow Food, Eataly (a popular gourmet retailer also founded in Piedmont) and the many Michelin-star restaurants scattered about the region have established it as the most culinarily progressive in Italy. It is the corner of Italy that most aspires to competing with the avant-garde chefs of Spain, France and the United States.
The Italian Alps
Sestriere has around 800 inhabitants and is located on the pass that links Val Chisone and Val Susa, at 2,035 metres (6,677 feet) above mean sea level The village is completely surrounded by mountains, which have been exploited to build one of the biggest ski resorts in Italy. The main mountains around Sestriere are: Monte Fraiteve 2,701 m (8,862 ft) in the north-east, Monte Sises 2,658 m (8,720 ft), Punta Rognosa di Sestriere 3,280 m (10,761 ft) and Monte Motta 2,850 m (9,350 ft) in the south-east. Sestriere is divided into several smaller hamlets: Sestriere Colle, on the pass top, Sestriere Borgata, in Val Chisone, Champlas du Col and Champlas Janvier, in Val Susa.
Sestriere is a popular skiing resort; during the winter holidays the population goes up to about 20,000 people. Together with the villages ofPragelato, Claviere, Sauze d'Oulx, Cesana Torinese and San Sicario, and Montgenèvre in France, it makes up the Via Lattea (Milky Way) skiing area. Sestriere is connected to 146 skiable pistes, for a total of up to 400 km (249 mi) of trails, of which 120 are provided with artificial snow. Sestriere has also one of the few facilities where it is possible to ski at night on a floodlit run.
It regularly hosts FIS Alpine Ski World Cup events, and it hosted the FIS World Championships in 1997, and the IPC World Championships in2011. It was a main venue during the 2006 Winter Olympic Games and the 2006 Winter Paralympics, hosting all the men's alpine skiing competitions and being the site of one of the three Olympic Villages.[1] The two hotel towers, one of which was part of the Olympic Village, were built in the 1930s by FIAT's founder Giovanni Agnelli, and have become the symbol of the village; these were the first buildings of the village.
The town, in a beautiful panoramic position, with views of the Langhe and Alps, has a medieval layout which vaguely recalls a fan. In Piazza Castello there is a spectacular viewpoint of the surrounding hills. The parish church of S. Martin, which houses a painting by Aliberti, and the municipal towers of 1730, which are 31m tall, square, made up of five simple and sombre square floors and a Baroque style bell tower, are worth visiting. In the Annunziata hamlet there is the Museum Ratti dei Vini di Alba, relative to the history and techniques of oenology and viticulture.
La Morra
Spas
Acqui Terme
Located in the region of Asti is the nearest town to Turin (approximately 30 km) for natural thermal springs. There are two types of thermal water that guashes out from the ground in Acqui Terme one is call La Bollente (boiling water) at 75° C and the other is Del Lago. Primarily the water composition is made-up of suplhur, salts, bromine and iodine.
All around the town you will find many hotels providing spa treatments as they are able to source the thermal spring water from ancient Roman aque duct built centuries ago. If you are curious how the aque duct looks like you can visit it under the Carlo Alberto Bridge along Corso Bagni. Acqui Terme is one of the most famous thermal spring town in the region of Piedmont Italy.
CUNEO
Institute of Idrotermale Lurisia
It was founded in 1940 and is located in Cuneo. This Italian spa is endorsed by Italy Ministry of Health as a Super First Class Spa. It also offer sea salt treatments and balneotherapy. The classification of water in this spa is minimal mineral and microbiologically pure.
Terme di Garessio
Garessio is a holiday resort located between the sea and mountains in the Province of Cuneo. This spa is open from June to September and its water composition is poorly mineralized good for diuretic purposes - if any of you having water retention problems this is something for you to consider.
Terme di Vinadio
A very ancient Italian spa the first description of this property was found dated 1552. Its water source come from two main springs - Stufa Antica and Stufa Santelli. They are piped into the spa to fill the swimming pool, hydro-massage pools and inhalation treatment system. Water composition is sulphureous good for dermatological, gynaecology, respiratory, acne and cellulitis. They offer very much the same beauty treatments offered by others.
