Alba is a picturesque city in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, nestled in the heart of the Langhe hills, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

🍷 Why Alba is worth a visit:

  • Wine & Truffles: Known as the capital of white truffles and home to world-class wines like Barolo and Barbaresco.

  • Historic Charm: Once a Roman town (Alba Pompeia), it still boasts medieval towers, Romanesque churches, and cobbled streets.

  • Cultural Hub: Hosts the famous International White Truffle Fair each autumn and is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for Gastronomy.

  • Modern Meets Traditional: Headquarters of Ferrero (yes, Nutella!) and a vibrant food scene that blends rustic Piedmontese flavors with modern flair.

Alba is a place where history, flavor, and beauty come together in every bite and every view.

🏺 Prehistoric & Roman Foundations

  • Neolithic Era: Human settlement in the Alba area dates back to between the 6th and 3rd millennium BC, with early inhabitants living near the Cherasca and Tanaro rivers.

  • Roman Era – Alba Pompeia: In 89 BC, Roman consul Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo officially founded the town as Alba Pompeia, granting it municipium status. It became a key stop on the road between Acqui Terme and Turin.

  • Imperial Ties: Alba was the birthplace of Emperor Pertinax (ruled briefly in 193 AD) and featured Roman infrastructure like aqueducts, sewers, and a forum.

🏰 Medieval Fortitude

  • Post-Roman Chaos: After the Western Roman Empire fell, Alba was sacked by Goths, Lombards, Franks, and Saracens.

  • Free Commune (1170): Alba gained independence and joined the Lombard League. It became a fortified city with over 100 towers—earning it the nickname City of a Hundred Towers.

  • Guelphs vs. Ghibellines: Like many Italian cities, Alba was caught in the crossfire of these rival factions.

👑 Renaissance to Savoy Rule

  • Gonzaga & Savoy Dynasties: Alba passed through the hands of the Gonzaga family before being conquered by Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy in 1628. The Treaty of Cherasco (1631) confirmed Savoy control.

  • Napoleonic Era: Briefly became the Republic of Alba in 1796, a French client state, before being annexed to the French Empire. Returned to the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1814.

🚂 Modern Legacy

  • WWII Resistance: In 1944, Alba was briefly liberated by partisans who declared a second Republic of Alba. Though short-lived, it earned the town a Gold Medal for Military Valour.

  • Cultural Renaissance: Today, Alba is a UNESCO Creative City, home to the Ferrero company (yes, Nutella!), and a global destination for food, wine, and history lovers.

From Roman emperors to truffle hunters, Alba’s past is as rich as its soil.