Diano D'alba: Baroque, Wine Tradition and Panoramic Views

Panoramic Views, Baroque and Wine Tradition

Diano D'alba combines a distinctive panoramic viewpoint with Piedmontese Baroque architecture and a local history closely connected with the vine. If, during your trip to Italy, you would like to experience culture, landscape and wine tradition together, you will find several distinct points of interest here. The Punto Panoramico of Diano d'Alba offers a 360-degree view of the Alpine arc across Piedmont, the Aosta Valley and Lombardy, of the hills of Moscato, Barbaresco and Barolo, and of the entire Tanaro Valley.

Church of San Giovanni Battista and Ruffino Palace

The parish church of San Giovanni Battista was built between 1763 and 1770 according to a design by the architect C. F. Rangone in the Piedmontese Baroque style and reflects the influence of the school of the architect Juvarra. Its single-nave interior has six side chapels in the Piedmontese Baroque style. Gilded friezes and capitals depicting Gospel scenes define the space; these are joined by works by the Turin artist Rodolfo Morgari and the painter Fedele Finatti from Alba. The church also houses Antonio Tempesta's painting “The display of the Shroud”, donated by the House of Savoy.

Ruffino Palace now houses valuable maps of Diano from the Napoleonic period. The palace features decorations in the Piedmontese Baroque style. The council chamber was used as a reception and ballroom during the time of the Ruffino family and is considered the palace's most important room in terms of art and history.

Castle History, Chapels and Roman Traces

Castello Perduto was built in 866 and rebuilt at the beginning of the 11th century by Marquis Guglielmo di Busca. It stood where the Belvedere is located today. Following the Treaty of Cherasco of 1631, the fief of Diano once again passed to the House of Savoy. Vittorio Amedeo I of Savoy had the castle finally destroyed after ascending to the throne because it granted too much power to the feudal lord who ruled there.

The Chapel of San Rocco was built by local farmers using traditional craftsmanship after the great plague of 1630. The cave dedicated to the goddess Diana was probably built during the same period along the Roman road Magistra Langarum, which connected Alba and Liguria. In Borgo Lopiano and on Strada S. Croce, residents traditionally celebrate the feast of San Rocco during the week around 16 August.

Winegrowing to Taste and Experience

The Museo della Civiltà Contadina in Cascina Rossa illustrates, through a family history spanning more than a century, the rural life shaped by the vine and the development of winegrowing in this area. On 6 December 1999, the Cantina Comunale dei Sorì was established in the building's cellars as a permanent venue for tasting and purchasing typical products and wines, especially Dolcetto di Diano d'Alba. The annual autumn festival “Di sorì In sorì” begins and ends at the Cantina Comunale dei Sorì and takes visitors on a culinary and wine-focused tour through the local wineries.

Scenic Trails

The blue-marked Sentiero San Rocco leads to the first houses of Diano d'Alba and to the Chapel of San Rocco. The trail then continues to the church of Diano d'Alba and to a panoramic terrace with a 360-degree view, a playground and benches. For a longer cycling tour, there is the approximately 53-kilometre Barolo Rosso cycling loop: it starts in Alba, joins the route in Diano d'Alba and then returns to the city. This makes it possible to combine the town's cultural sights, wine tradition and viewpoints with different travel interests.

More Destinations

For further travel planning, you can also explore Castagnito, Roddino, San Donato Di Mango, Piobesi D'alba, Monticello D'alba, Artesina, Gallo and Mombasiglio.

To the overview of higher-level destinations: Cuneo.