11 Activities
Piedmont: Discover Underground Roman Ruins in Alba and Cellar Wine Tasting in Bra
Starts from
Turin
Transportation
By Car
Guidance
Self-Guided
Activities
11
Duration
10 hrs 30 min
Length
26 mi
Guide details
Starts from
Turin
Transportation
By Car
Guidance
Self-Guided
Duration
10 hrs 30 min
Length
26 mi
- History and Culture
- Unusual Locations
- Gastronomy
Darcy Tuscano
Travel Expert
- Travel underground to discover remains of a Roman city.
- Experience wine tasting in a cellar.
- Dine in a former Roman temple.
- Explore Alba, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Are you looking for something completely different for your day trip out of Turin? This route is expertly designed to take you underground as you explore Roman ruins beneath the city streets of Alba, once a powerful Roman city, now part of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network.
You'll visit two different underground spaces of archeological wonder, plus have lunch on the site of an ancient temple. Later, you'll drive to the town of Bra for a cellar wine tasting experience and dine on more delicious Piedmontese specialities.
Prepare for a great day out exploring Piedmont on this perfectly crafted one-day trip.
You'll visit two different underground spaces of archeological wonder, plus have lunch on the site of an ancient temple. Later, you'll drive to the town of Bra for a cellar wine tasting experience and dine on more delicious Piedmontese specialities.
Prepare for a great day out exploring Piedmont on this perfectly crafted one-day trip.
Categories
- History and Culture
- Unusual Locations
- Gastronomy
Are you looking for something completely different for your day trip out of Turin? This route is expertly designed to take you underground as you explore Roman ruins beneath the city streets of Alba, once a powerful Roman city, now part of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network.
You'll visit two different underground spaces of archeological wonder, plus have lunch on the site of an ancient temple. Later, you'll drive to the town of Bra for a cellar wine tasting experience and dine on more delicious Piedmontese specialities.
Prepare for a great day out exploring Piedmont on this perfectly crafted one-day trip.
You'll visit two different underground spaces of archeological wonder, plus have lunch on the site of an ancient temple. Later, you'll drive to the town of Bra for a cellar wine tasting experience and dine on more delicious Piedmontese specialities.
Prepare for a great day out exploring Piedmont on this perfectly crafted one-day trip.
Darcy Tuscano
Travel Expert
- Travel underground to discover remains of a Roman city.
- Experience wine tasting in a cellar.
- Dine in a former Roman temple.
- Explore Alba, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day Itinerary
11 Activities
Day 1
24 mi2 mi
A Day of Exploration With Food, Wine and Surprises Below the Streets
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alba is well known for its culinary traditions and Roman ruins. Today you'll travel below the city streets to discover an underground Roman city, visit a museum, dine on the best Piedmontese gastronomy, go wine tasting in a cellar and even have time to explore a bit of the beautiful natural surroundings in the countryside.
It's going to be an amazing day exploring the Piedmont region!
It's going to be an amazing day exploring the Piedmont region!
09:1530 min
Lago degli Aironi
Start your day with a lovely walk around the Lago degli Aironi. Only an hour outside of Torino, you'll find this pristine natural park not far from the Parco Forestale del Roero.
So stretch your legs and enjoy a quiet morning stroll in this tranquil setting.
So stretch your legs and enjoy a quiet morning stroll in this tranquil setting.
14.5 mi
30 min
10:155 min
Car Park
Please park your car here for your time spent in Alba. There are going to be several museums and famous sights located in the city.
0.2 mi
5 min
10:3015 min
Mercato Ortofrutticolo
Alba is a huge producer of the creamy, chocolatey, hazelnut spread made famous by the brand "Nutella" which is based here. While Nutella has seen an international surge in popularity recently, Italians and especially the population in this region, have been enjoying the sweet hazelnut (nocciola in Italian) spread for generations.
In the Mercato Ortofrutticolo, there are lush local fruits and vegetables, but more importantly, you'll find many small stalls selling artisan hazelnut spread (sometimes called cream or butter). You'll be able to try different samples and varieties before you purchase your favourites.
In the Mercato Ortofrutticolo, there are lush local fruits and vegetables, but more importantly, you'll find many small stalls selling artisan hazelnut spread (sometimes called cream or butter). You'll be able to try different samples and varieties before you purchase your favourites.
0.4 mi
10 min
11:001 hr 30 min
Alba Sotterranea
Alba Sotterranea "Underground" is a cultural project hosted by the city to introduce visitors to the archaeological wonders hidden beneath "Alba Pompeia" as the city was known in Roman times.
This is a unique and special opportunity to have a professional archaeologist guiding you through the labyrinth of underground rooms as you learn about 2,000 years of ancient history layers.
The only way to learn about this mysterious underworld is through a guided tour.
Tickets are by advance reservation only with departures from 10:00, 11:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00. So, check the link to book the tickets.
This is a unique and special opportunity to have a professional archaeologist guiding you through the labyrinth of underground rooms as you learn about 2,000 years of ancient history layers.
The only way to learn about this mysterious underworld is through a guided tour.
Tickets are by advance reservation only with departures from 10:00, 11:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00. So, check the link to book the tickets.
0.2 mi
5 min
12:451 hr
Ristorante Museum
The Museum Restaurant, located on the city block where the ancient Roman Temple of Alba Pompeia was once located, consists of multiple underground rooms where you can dine with a glimpse of the Roman past.
Chef Vito Aleccia presides in the kitchen and specializes in creating innovative Piedmontese dishes with respect to using only the freshest local and regional products.
Reserve your table online.
Chef Vito Aleccia presides in the kitchen and specializes in creating innovative Piedmontese dishes with respect to using only the freshest local and regional products.
Reserve your table online.
0.2 mi
5 min
14:0030 min
Cattedrale di San Lorenzo
In Piazza Duomo, down the pretty cobblestoned streets of Alba, is the Cathedral of San Lorenzo.
The Romanesque structure from the 15th century features four commanding towers representing the four evangelists; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Inside near the altar, under the rose window, you'll find Baroque/Rococo features with a 1878 sculpture of San Lorenzo by the Milanese artist, Luigi Cocchio.
The Romanesque structure from the 15th century features four commanding towers representing the four evangelists; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Inside near the altar, under the rose window, you'll find Baroque/Rococo features with a 1878 sculpture of San Lorenzo by the Milanese artist, Luigi Cocchio.
0.1 mi
5 min
14:451 hr 30 min
Museo Diocesano di Alba
The guided tour to the underground crypt of San Lorenzo in the Cathedrale Sotterranea once again takes you beneath the modern streets of Alba to step back into the ancient past.
There are also Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance archaeological finds displayed in the underground museum as part of the guided tour.
Advance ticket reservation is highly recommended.
There are also Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance archaeological finds displayed in the underground museum as part of the guided tour.
Advance ticket reservation is highly recommended.
0.3 mi
5 min
16:305 min
Car Park
Return here to collect your car and drive to Bra.
9.9 mi
25 min
17:005 min
Car Park
Park here for your time in Bra. You will have some culinary experience in this adorable town.
0.6 mi
15 min
17:301 hr 30 min
Cantine Ascheri Giacomo
In the cellars of Cantine Ascheri Giacomo, one of Bra's premier distributors of fine wines since the beginning of the 19th century, you'll learn everything about the product production and methods used.
Afterwards, you'll have a chance to pick the package of wine tasting you'd like to enjoy. You can drink easy knowing all wines have been produced using the "Green Method" of sustainable agriculture.
Advance ticket reservation is required.
Afterwards, you'll have a chance to pick the package of wine tasting you'd like to enjoy. You can drink easy knowing all wines have been produced using the "Green Method" of sustainable agriculture.
Advance ticket reservation is required.
0.6 mi
15 min
19:151 hr 30 min
Centrostorico Restaurant
The cute and cosy bistro "Centrostorico" in central Bra, not far from Cantine Ascheri Giacomo, is a great place to have dinner tonight before driving back to Turin.
Featuring a full wine list and innovative dishes such as "duck with salted carmel and white wine sauce" or "gorgonzola and radicchio penne pasta", you'll find something to love. They also cater to vegetarian and vegan customers.
Featuring a full wine list and innovative dishes such as "duck with salted carmel and white wine sauce" or "gorgonzola and radicchio penne pasta", you'll find something to love. They also cater to vegetarian and vegan customers.