This journey through the lush and fertile land of Langhe commences in Asti, a city famous for its historic Palio horse race and even more so for its wine, produced here since the Middle Ages and so present in the culture and traditions of the city that it has become one of Piedmont's principal production centers, with 14 of Asti's wines achieving D.O.C status. The picturesque streets of the medieval center are lined with historic town houses, elegant shops and wine bars. The Romanesque crypt...

The Borromeo islands are the subject of any number of postcards sent home to friends and family by holiday makers visiting Lake Maggiore, one of Italy's major alpine lakes. Our exploration of the islands and the many fascinating sites located on the shores of this enormous basin or water commences with a visit to the town of Verbania.

Also known as the Garden on Lake Maggiore, Verbania boasts numerous parks overlooking the water. Perhaps the most beautiful is that of Villa Taranto, home to an...

The Susa Valley begins right at the gates of Turin. The entire length of the valley can be traversed via the SS 25 highway which winds slowly through the mountains and, after some 15 kms, leads the traveller to St. Antonio di Ranverso, a monastic complex and hospital founded in 1186 and subsequently enlarged in the 13th and 14th centuries. In the church, redecorated in the 15th century, frescoes by Giacomo Jaquerio (1401-1453) and an early 15th century Polyptic by Defendente Ferrari can be...

From Turin we take the South ring-road (tangenziale sud) as far as the La Loggia exit and, after a short stretch of the SS20 highway, we come to the first site on our itinerary, Vallinotto, where to find the delightful Sanctuary of the Visitation built in 1738 on a hexagonal plan and the undisputed masterpiece of the young Bernado Antonio Vittone.

To reach Villafranca Piemonte we take the secondary road which skirts the river Po, where to breathe the atmosphere of the ancient Via del...