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Piemonte Hilltop Villages

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Submarines and Piemonte Villages???
A very long time ago, I was a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy.  This was before the demise of the Soviet Union (look it up in your history books).  Before heading out on a patrol in the Barents Sea, we drilled in recognizing foreign warships just by the arrangement of antennas. We learned this so we could recognize the ship well before they came over the horizon; important if you are a submarine and are trying to remain hidden!

I.D. the ship just by the top of the masts. Kynda, Kresta, Kara

I.D. the ship just by the top of the masts. Kynda, Kresta, Kara

So what does this have to do with the villages of the Langhe in the Piemonte?  Just this: each of these medieval villages has a different hilltop castle, tower, clock tower, estate house.  Can you learn to recognize the village just by a glimpse at the top?  It’s fun, give it a try!  When you’re visiting for real, you’ll always know where you are, sort of…

Piemonte hilly

Piemonte hills

Barbaresco Villages: Barbaresco and Neive
Pay attention, sailor, your training is about to begin.  This first set is pretty easy, there are only three main villages in the Barbaresco zone and I only have photos of two; I’ll try to add Treiso the next time we go! Click on the first photo to start the slide show & quiz.

Barbaresco: Square tower with attached glass elevator behind Barbaresco tower from a vineyard  near Neive Neive: square clock tower, church steeples nearby. Neive from vineyards nearby. Notice the church steeples. You didn't think this would always be easy? Nebbia is the fog. (Barbaresco) What's that off to the left? OK, you better get this one. Angela Gaja would recognize this as his backyard. Hmmm.... Can you recognize them even at night?

Barolo: La Morra, Serralunga, Grinzane Cavor, Novello
Now things are going to get more interesting.  There are thirteen villages in the Barolo zone.  This won’t be all of them, but it’s a good start. Click the first photo to start the slideshow and quiz.

La Morra has a clock tower with a steeple above, but it can be difficult to pick out. La Morra is a high point in the area, note the clock tower on the right.  La Morra is easiest to recognize by a hill to the left full of ugly radio towers (not shown here) La Morra up close Castiglione Falleto has a round tower with a flat top.  Note the ugly radio towers next to La Morra off in the background on the right. Serralunga d'Alba has a very distinctive square manor house with one square tower and one round tower. Castiglione Falleto in the right middleground.  Nice view of La Morra in the background, with ugly radio towers on the left. Serralunga d'Alba Tough one: manor house with square tower seen from below.  Where are we? What do you see?  Where are we? What's this? OK, I slipped this one in.  It's a Kresta I cruiser. Trick shot.  One of the towers at Serralunga d'Alba I give.  I have no idea which village this is. Every hilltop has a town. If you see Julie, look around.  I'll be the guy with the camera. You can get this one. What do you think? Nicola is pointing to the little hamlet of Berri. Seen from below.  Where are we? This is the Lebanon Cedar, an iconic spot near La Morra. Recognize the town behind our group?

Congratulations sailor, well done.  Enjoy a glass of Barolo!

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Tagged: Barbaresco, barolo, Langhe, neive, novello, Piedmont, Piemonte, serralunga

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