Ferrarotti is centrally located in the southern part of Piedmont, a short drive from the Alps between Italy, Switzerland and France, close to the Mediterranean sea, lovely Italian cities and towns, wonderful areas for cycling and hiking, Michelin star restaurants and local eateries, and of course world-renowned wine areas such as Barolo and Barbaresco. And so much more...

1 hour by car to Turin, 1 hour to the Mediterranean and 30 -40 minutes to the nearest mountains with beautiful hiking and cycling areas in summer - and ski centers up to about 2000 meters in winter (Artesina, Prato Nevoso and Frabosa Soprana). The largest ski resorts are the Alps about 2 - 2.5 hours drive away. Examples are Sestriere, Monterosa, Courmayour and large areas near Mont Blanc.

nearby

There are many nice towns nearby and some examples are Alba (40 minutes), the capital of the province, Cuneo (40 minutes), Mondovi (20 minutes) and the nearest town Carru (10 minutes). Places with a long history and many opportunities for nice experiences - be it museums, art, architecture, sights, shopping or food and drink.

Piedmont has a varied cuisine with long traditions and there are many family run restaurants serving typical Piedmontese food. There are several very nice places a nice walk or bike ride away. As one of our guests commented after a dinner at Al Castello in Ciglie: “This was the most authentic experience ever - in a good way”.

We can propose things to do, places to see and where to dine - different kinds of trattorias, osterias and restaurants for “pranzo” or “cena” - just ask!

Wine and winetasting

The Langhe region is known for its wines, and especially from the Barolo and Barbaresco regions where Nebbiolo is the dominating grape. The small town of Barolo is about 20 minutes from Ferrarotti by car - or a bike ride through the beautiful countryside.

In the Langhe area you can enjoy wine tasting in some of the most famous vinyards in the world, or you can visit lesser known winemakers who also produce excellent wines. Meeting the people and learning about all the work and care necessary to produce good wines is a “must” when you visit Piedmont.

South of Barolo you find the Dogliani wine region, where Dolcetto is the most important grape. Traditionally, wine made from this grape is the "everyday wine" in Piedmont. Not as famous as Nebbiolo and Barbera, but a very good wine that goes well with pasta, risotto and other typical local food. Dolcetto is the grape we grow in our small vineyard at Ferrarotti.

In the area surrounding Ferrarotti you can visit farmers who produce wines from Dolcetto or visit the Cantina in Clavesana (5 km from Ferrarotti). Here you can taste and compare a variety of wines based on Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Chardonnay, Arneis and Moscato.

Markets

The markets in Italy must be experienced. There are markets almost every day, but in different cities and with very different content. Some are small with a few stalls for selling vegetables, meats, sausages, fish and groceries - while others offer “everything” from chainsaws and garden utentils to chickens and baccala.

The pictures to the right are from the Saturday market in Mondovi, about 20 minutes away from Ferrarotti. This market is open on saturday mornings. It is situated in the middle of the city by the busstation. It is a fairly large market with a very good selection of cheese, meat, fish. sausages, vegetables, fruits, hardware, fishing gear, shoes and various clothing.

A potential plan for a nice day could be strolling around the market in the morning, lunch in the town before some sightseeing and/or shopping - maybe also a break for espresso and cake on a local “Pasticceria”. When the appetite has rebuilt after the lunch - there are a variety of trattorias, osterias and restaurants to choose from for dinner :-)

Festivals, food, wine and culture - And some shopping

Finding something to do in Piedmont is not difficult. Festivals are arranged most of the year - particularly in the period from April to November. In our immediate area, the food, wine and music festivals in Monforte d'Alba, Alba, Barolo and Cuneo are particularly exciting, but there is a lot going on elsewhere as well. We will be happy to give advice and explain directions.

When it comes to shopping, there are countless possibilities - either in great cities such as Mondoví, Cuneo, Alba, Bra and Turin (to name a few) or at an outlet with more than 100 shops fifteen minutes away. In Turin, Via Roma is the largest shopping street with several of the largest clothing brands, but there are many - and perhaps more exciting - shops smaller streets and side streets. Cuneo is the provincial capital and a great city to visit. It was founded in 1198 and has since been under either French or Italian control and is nicknamed “the town of seven sieges”. The city has over eight kilometers of covered walkways, “portici”, made up of arches of various widths and height.  It offers the town a distinctive feel and also helps with shading during the hot summer months.

Depending on what you want to do, we can provide tips on towns and places worth visiting.

some Activities

The interest in cycling is huge in Italy and Piedmont is a very nice area to ride in with its hills and valleys. You can choose for yourself if you want a "black trail" or you want to use a bike as a great opportunity to explore the area. A nice option is to stay in the hills with a fantastic view over Piedmont and cycle through charming towns like Murazzano and Bossolasco - and maybe stop for an espresso or a nice meal on the way. We will organize rentals of bikes and e-bikes from local shops and will also have bikes for rent at the house.

For those who want to exercise, there are lots of opportunities for walking or running on forest trails or roads with low traffic in the area around Ferrarotti. A trip through the vineyards, hazel nut groves and nearby forests is a nice experience. A relaxed picnic on a hilltop while enjoying the views and the tranquility of the area is also a nice option.

The forests can also be used for truffle hunting. In Piedmont there are many professional truffle hunters who use dogs to find the treats and it is possible for visitors to join the hunt. We will of course organize this - but please let us know well in advance as it is a popular activity.