Italy Travel And Hotel Guide

The tourist office (Mon-Fri 9am-1pm & 2-6pm, Sat 9am-noon; tel 0173.36.2562, www.comune.alba.cn.it ) is on Via Emanuele 19 and has maps of Alba and information on the surrounding area. If you want to stay , you could try the very basic Leon d’Oro , Piazza Marconi 2 (tel 0173.441.901; L60,000-90,000/¬30.99-46.48); the more comfortable Piemonte , Piazza Rossetti 6 (tel 0173.441.354; L90,000-120,000/¬46.48-61.98); or the Hotel Savona , a good three-star handy for the train station, located at Piazza Savona 2 (tel 0173.440.440; L90,000-120,000/¬46.48-61.98), with especially good deals for triples. You’ll need to plan ahead to be sure of a room, especially during the October festival. The best place to sample Albese cooking is the excellent Osteria dell’Arco , at Piazza Savona 5 (closed Mon lunchtime & all day Sun), which has a particularly fine selection of local cheeses. If you have your own transport, the village of Neive , about 13km north of Alba, makes a good alternative overnight stop. Here Il Contea , Piazza Cocito 8 (tel 0173.671.126; L90,000-120,000/¬46.48-61.98), a restaurant with rooms , offers excellent food and some of the best Barbaresco, Dolcetto and Barolo wines from the vineyards around. Rooms are comfortable, with antique beds and whitewashed walls.

Tags: 9am, fri, tourist office