Albaretto della Torre
Population
Inhabitants name
Altitude
Hamlets
Patron Saint
Twin Cities
Nestled in the Alta Langa, Albaretto della Torre is a small village that captivates with its authentic simplicity and breathtaking landscapes. Here you can still breathe the authentic and rural atmosphere of small hill towns. Built in ancient times in a privileged position for commercial exchanges, today it is just a few kilometers from the Langa del Barolo, one of the most renowned territories in the world for viticulture.
Off the beaten tourist track and away from the chaos of the Bassa Langa, it is the ideal place to immerse yourself in genuine food, wine, and cultural experiences that tell the truest soul of this territory. The village proudly preserves its traditions, its stories, and its identity. Examples include the popular festivals and games of the past that still unite generations today, but always with an eye to the future. Among these stands out the cod throwing, an ancient game that involved throwing a salted cod, re-proposed today in one of the most cherished popular festivals of the village.
Even though far from the sea, Albaretto della Torre preserves living traces of ancient exchanges and commercial routes that started from Liguria and reached the interior following the Salt Roads. This is how cod and anchovies became part of the local cuisine, becoming signature ingredients of dishes still prepared in homes today and celebrated at village festivals.
The undisputed symbol of the village and panoramic viewpoint par excellence is its medieval tower that rises with sober stone elegance. From the top of the tower, its strategic position is immediately apparent: the view sweeps over the Bormida valley, the aforementioned hills of the Langa del Barolo, extending to embrace the Alpine arc.
Albaretto della Torre is immersed in the somewhat wild nature of the Alta Langa, where woods and hazelnut groves (strictly Tonda Gentile del Piemonte hazelnut) reign supreme, to be explored with outdoor routes, including trekking, e-biking, and even themed walks whose guide is, of course, a cod.
In short, Albaretto della Torre welcomes visitors with different interests, with discretion but above all with a rare warmth.
Albaretto della Torre (330 inhabitants). Small town on a high hill, at the foot of which the Belbo flows to the east, 10 kilometers from Bossolasco. Parish church of Sant’Antonino; Charity Congregation. Great stone tower, remnant of an ancient castle of Balestrino. Corn, wheat, and wine.
Historical notes. — The foundation of this town is attributed by some historians to the Romans, and in feudal times it was under the rule of the Valperga.
Electoral district Cuneo III (Alba) — Diocese Alba — P2 at Serravalle Langhe, T. at Bossolasco.
Gustavo Straforello
Turin 1891 -La patria. Geography of Italy. Province of Cuneo – Volume 1
E’ il simbolo del paese, nonché centro per eventi e attività
The history of Albaretto della Torre
Starting from 967
From Roman times to the present day, a history that has left numerous marks on the territory
Albaretto della Torre has its roots in Roman times, as evidenced by some archaeological discoveries. With the weakening and subsequent fall of the Western Roman Empire, the area became the scene of the so-called barbarian invasions: the Visigoths at the beginning of the 5th century, the Hungarians (known for their ferocity and cruelty), and finally the Saracens, whose raids deeply marked the territory in the 10th century.
In 967, Emperor Otto I, to counter the advance of the Saracens, rewarded the valiant Aleramo with large portions of land in the Langhe and Monferrato. Aleramo thus became the progenitor of the powerful Del Vasto and Del Carretto families, central to local history.
It was the Del Carretto marquises who built a castle in Albaretto, later destroyed by the French in 1630. All that remains of the ancient complex is the medieval tower, today the symbol of the town, from which it takes the name "Albaretto della Torre"
Around the year 990, Albaretto was part of the county of Alba. Shortly after, it passed under the control of the marquises of Susa, as attested by a decree of King Conrad in 1026, in favor of the brothers Bosone and Guidone. Later, it was Bonifacio del Vasto who governed these lands, already severely tested by barbarian invasions. Not surprisingly, during that period, the area was called Deserta Langarum, or "desert of the Langhe," to emphasize its desolation.
In 1125, Albaretto was inherited by Bonifacio Minore of Cortemilia, a descendant of Bonifacio del Vasto. It subsequently became part of the Marquisate of Saluzzo (1203) and later passed under the control of the marquises of Bossolasco. Among the feudal lords who followed were also the Gioia d'Asti (at the beginning of the 17th century), the Pastoris, and the Ponti in the 18th century. With the Peace of Vienna in 1735, Albaretto officially entered the domains of the House of Savoy, under the reign of Charles Emmanuel III.
The municipal archives also record Commander Brandale Lucioni (1740–1803), a scholar of defensive tactics in urban warfare. Among his strategies were the use of lances, poles, tridents, arquebuses, and sentinel shifts in bell towers, from which bells could be rung in alarm to signal the arrival of enemies.
The etymology of the name "Albaretto" remains uncertain. It could derive from the Piedmontese term arbra, which indicates a place rich in vegetation (especially poplars), but a connection with albatus ("dressed in white," perhaps referring to light-colored vegetation) or with album is not ruled out.
What to do in Albaretto della Torre
In Albaretto della Torre, there are two most cherished festivals, organized with passion by the Pro Loco "La Torre" that every year transform the village into a stage of conviviality.
The first is the classic village festival in early September, three days that combine the best of Langhe culture: traditional dishes, good wine, and entertainment for all ages with live music. The atmosphere is typical of village festivals, where tourists and residents find themselves side by side.
The most characteristic and unique event is undoubtedly the “Fëra dij Plandrun,” or the Festival of the Pelandroni. Plandrun is the word in Piedmontese dialect for lazybones/slackers. It is held on the last Sunday of November and the undisputed star is tradition! On this occasion, an ancient popular custom is rediscovered, that of cod throwing, which was once a real challenge among villagers… today it is a moment of play that involves young and old with great enthusiasm. Around the cod throwing, the festival offers a lively artisan market with typical products and local creations, flag-wavers’ performances, concerts, roasted chestnuts, and a collective lunch where cod cannot be missing!
A mention also goes to another popular game that only the elderly in the village remember, the turkey race.
Throughout the year, Albaretto della Torre continues to surprise with a lively and varied cultural, naturalistic, and food and wine offering. The tower and the deconsecrated church host exhibitions and art installations of various kinds as well as cultural initiatives. Along the evocative via del Pala Merlüss, the scene of the historic cod throwing, you can retrace the history of this tradition.
For outdoor enthusiasts, the village is crossed by the GTL (Great Langhe Traverse) and is ideal for e-bike excursions, thanks also to the e-bike rental service. But that’s not all—it is the transit and starting point for trekking routes thanks also to the recent/upcoming opening of the themed route “In Search of the Cod,” designed for young and old alike. To complete the experience, the food and wine aspect cannot be missing, guaranteed by the presence of family-run farms and the Sensovia, a project that allows you to discover and taste carefully selected local products through a series of different proposals in unique and unforgettable locations, always combining tasting and awareness.
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Townhall
Tourist Office
Events in Albaretto della Torre and around
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02 SepAperitif and lavender-themed dishes
A special gastronomic journey dedicated to lavender with a themed aperitif and exclusive dishes designed to accompany the exhibition by Enzo Massa
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03 SepAlbaretto in festa: pizza in the square
The festival opens with an evening dedicated to pizza and music with a DJ set to let loose
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04 SepHorse Ride with Axel
A special evening dedicated to the little ones to experience an exciting adventure
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22 Aug 06 SepThe color of scent: lavender
An exhibition of thirty images by photographer Enzo Massa from Alba, taken in Provence
Attractions in Albaretto della Torre
Albaretto può essere un centro ideale per visitare le Langhe in bici
Products
The undisputed star of these hills is the Piedmont Hazelnut PGI, whose hazelnut groves surround Albaretto della Torre.
Belonging to the Tonda Gentile Trilobata variety, it is known and appreciated throughout the world for its unique characteristics: a thin, hard shell, high shelling yield, aroma, and more!
It is rich in vitamin E, active ingredients, unsaturated fats, fiber, minerals, vitamins, and phytonutrients. An excellent source of good fats, it is also easily digestible. Crunchy, fragrant, versatile, the hazelnut is highly appreciated in pastry making (hazelnut cakes, spreads, brutti e buoni, baci di dama, bonet…) and generally in cooking in savory dishes with innovative gourmet proposals.
Although Albaretto della Torre is not a wine-producing municipality in the strict sense, it is located in the beating heart of one of the most famous wine territories in the world: the Langhe, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their extraordinary wine-growing landscape together with Monferrato and Roero. Just a few kilometers from the town, some of the great Piedmontese wines such as Barolo and Barbaresco are born.
Cheeses also represent a dive into the authentic flavors of this rural Langa area. Fresh or aged, they are created by skilled hands with traditional methods and recipes using sheep’s, cow’s, or goat’s milk. The ideal way to savor them? On their own or paired with honey (also produced locally) or local fruit preserves such as the famous cognà.
Since Albaretto della Torre was crossed by the ancient Salt Roads, dishes based on fish, and particularly cod, cannot be missing! So go ahead with polenta and cod, salt cod, and salted cod. Special mention for two anchovy-based dishes: bagnet verd and bagna caoda.
Wines & Local Products
Accommodation & Experiences in Albaretto della Torre and around
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