New Train Routes in Piedmont Truffles, Nutella, and Wine
Piedmont, a northwestern region of Italy, is known for its vineyards, truffle-filled woods, and Michelin-starred restaurants. Now, it has become easier to explore thanks to new train routes.
Starting this summer, you can travel by train between the towns of Asti and Alba, renowned for their sparkling wines and white truffles. Next year, additional routes will be introduced, allowing you to explore the region's historic villages.
Late last year, several regional train routes in Piedmont were revived after a 12-year hiatus. Currently, six return services operate daily between the towns of Asti and Alba.
Asti is famous for the production of sparkling white wine Asti Spumante and dessert wine Moscato d'Asti. Autumn is the best time to visit to coincide with lively wine festivals such as Douja d’Or and Festival delle Sagre.
From Asti, you can take the train to Alba, a city known for its annual white truffle fair. Hunters with dogs find these precious tubers in the surrounding woods, and you can try them in restaurants and at the fair from October to December.
Alba is also the birthplace of Nutella. Besides gastronomic delights, the city boasts the red-brick Romanesque Cathedral of San Lorenzo and the 14th-century Church of San Domenico.
Starting in January 2025, a line will reopen between Savigliano and Cuneo. Savigliano is known for its arcades and historic houses, as well as a railway museum. Cuneo is an elegant city with neoclassical architecture, known as Italy's chestnut capital.
Additionally, a route connecting Ceva and Ormea will open, surrounded by the peaks of the Ligurian Alps, ideal for hiking and biking.
These train routes make Piedmont even more accessible to tourists, allowing them to enjoy not only wine and truffles but also the region's rich cultural heritage.